F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Marko: Red Bull not only team targeted by new 'bendy wing' tests

Helmut Marko says Red Bull isn't the only F1 team targeted by the new "bendy wing" load tests that will be introduced by the FIA next month.

The topic of flexible wings was brought to the forefront in Barcelona last week following a comment by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton who claimed that Red Bull's RB16B was faster down straight at the Circuit de Catalunya thanks to a rear "bendy wing".

The FIA has subsequently decided to increase its scrutiny of the aero phenomenon by introducing a new series of load tests that shall be implemented from next month's French GP at Paul Ricard.

Marko is confident that Red Bull's car is in full compliance with the regulations, but the Red Bull motorsport boss says the Milton Keynes-based outfit isn't the only team targeted by the new load tests, with Alpine and Alfa Romeo also running wings that flex at high speed according to the Austrian.

"The wing has passed the load test," Marko told Germany's Motorsport-Total.com. "That is crucial.

"Now, there are new criteria that have different guidelines with regards to load. It's often the case when new regulations come and teams discover grey areas.

"But it's not just Red Bull being targeted. It affects other teams as well."

Marko also dismissed Hamilton's claim that Red Bull's "bendy wing" delivered a 0.3 seconds per lap advantage, insisting the gain was relative to the RB16B using a higher downforce wing in free practice on Friday in Barcelona.

Red Bull reverted to the smaller, lower downforce rear wing on Saturday.

"The reason for the smaller rear wing was that we were too slow on the straights," Marko explained.

"Hamilton then saw, when he was driving behind us, that we were relatively fast on the straights and put it down to the wing. That's where two things came together."

Marko doubts that any upcoming changes to its wing structure to comply with the FIA's new load tests will have a bearing on its performance relative to arch-rival Mercedes, adding that it would not be the first time that Red Bull would be required to "re-adjust" its wings during a season.

"It is certainly not a disadvantage that is decisive for the world championship", he said. "We had to readjust the front wings two, three times a season during our successful world championship period."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

Verstappen set for second row start at Nürburgring 24 Hours

Max Verstappen will launch his long-awaited Nürburgring 24 Hours debut from the second row of…

4 hours ago

Cadillac's Towriss rejects backmarker label: ‘You don’t know much about F1'

Cadillac F1’s arrival on the grid in 2026 has been anything but quiet, and according…

6 hours ago

Alpine adds former FIA aero chief to F1 technical structure

Alpine has strengthened its growing 2026 Formula 1 project by officially welcoming former FIA head…

7 hours ago

When a Williams found its way on to the grid of the Indy 500

The 65th running of the Indy 500 held back in 1981 saw an interesting and…

9 hours ago

Ralf Schumacher: Life in F1 as Michael’s brother often 'unpleasant'

Ralf Schumacher has opened up about the emotional strain he experienced during his F1 career,…

10 hours ago

Bottas reveals how Miami GP car theft triggered FBI investigation

For most Formula 1 drivers, the biggest threat during a Grand Prix weekend comes on…

11 hours ago