Williams to face Chinese GP stewards over flexi-wing footage delay

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Williams has been summoned to the stewards at the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix for failing to submit within the required timeframe mandatory video footage from their onboard cameras that monitor a car’s front and rear wings.

The issue arose after the team “failed to provide the video files recorded by the wireless forward and rearward facing cameras within one hour after the end of the first free practice session,” as stated by F1 technical delegate Jo Bauer, who referred the matter to the stewards.

Williams representatives are due to report to the stewards’ office in Shanghai at 8:30 AM on Saturday.

This incident breaches Technical Directive 34L, introduced at the Australian Grand Prix last week, which mandates teams to provide footage to ensure compliance with flexi-wing regulations.

However, this is not evidence of cheating. The technical delegate’s report clarified that Williams did not fail to provide the footage entirely, but missed the one-hour deadline post-practice. For now, Williams has not violated any technical regulations – just a procedural lapse.

The Flexi-Wing Controversy

The FIA has intensified its crackdown on flexi-wings following last year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Oscar Piastri’s McLaren rear wing flexed through the slot gap, creating a ‘mini-DRS’ effect that aided his car’s straight-line speed.

In response, the FIA now requires rear wings to flex no more than 0.5mm under a 75kg vertical load test, down from 0.7mm, with a 0.25mm tolerance for this weekend only.

Stricter front-wing flex limits, reducing from 15mm to 10mm, will also be enforced from the Spanish Grand Prix.

Awaiting the Stewards’ Verdict

The fact that the stewards delayed Williams’ hearing until Saturday morning indicates that this is not an urgent matter.

While Williams’ procedural breach could lead to a penalty, the severity remains uncertain.

The FIA’s focus on wing flexibility, heightened after Australia, underscores their commitment to closing loopholes, but Williams’ failure to meet the deadline doesn’t imply illegal wing usage.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.