FIA says ‘four or five’ teams non-compliant with F1 flexi-wing rules

The FIA has disclosed that nearly half of F1’s grid had to modify the rear wing on their car to comply with the governing body’s stricter anti-flexing regulations introduced ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.

The revelation comes as part of a broader clampdown on so-called ‘flexi-wings,’ with the governing body introducing a new technical directive to enforce compliance.

The upgraded TD now stipulates that the maximum slot gap width between an element’s mainplane and rear wing flap must not exceed 0.5mm – down from 2mm – when subjected to a 75kg vertical load.

Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s single-seater director, provided detailed insights into the situation, shedding light on the scale of the issue and the measures being taken to address it.

All 10 F1 teams were subjected in China to tougher load tests and camera monitoring to ensure adherence to the directive.

According to the FIA, nearly half the grid was found non-compliant, forcing several teams to modify their rear wings to avoid penalties.

“I think four or five weren’t [compliant], and they had to make changes [for China],” Tombazis told Motorsport-Total.com. “I’m hopeful it’ll be enough this time.”

A Complex Enforcement Challenge

The FIA’s push to eliminate flexible rear wings – sometimes dubbed the ‘mini-DRS’ saga due to their ability to subtly enhance straight-line speed – has been brewing for months.

To tackle the issue comprehensively, the governing body has combined physical load tests with advanced camera surveillance. Tombazis emphasized the complexity of policing such aerodynamic trickery.

“We continue to use cameras, simply to be safe. But ‘safe’ is actually a word I want to avoid, because it’s a rather complex phenomenon that causes this effect,” he explained.

“Basically, we mainly use the results of the load tests and combine that with the camera data. That way we ensure we don’t miss any tricks. Camera images alone would lead us to involve the stewards.

“They’re more likely to initiate a more detailed investigation, where we might discover that a team is using non-linear characteristics or a mechanism. Then we’d have reason to report it.”

The use of cameras serves as a supplementary tool, designed to flag potential irregularities that might not be evident from load tests alone.

Teams Respond to the Directive

While the FIA has not officially named all the teams affected, Alpine and Haas have publicly acknowledged making adjustments to their cars.

Alpine was the first to confirm modifications, followed by Haas, which tweaked the rear wing of its VF-25 challenger.

Sources suggest that McLaren and Ferrari were also under scrutiny, though neither team has commented publicly.

Despite the initial failures, all 10 teams ultimately passed the revised tests in China, bringing their cars into compliance.

However, Tombazis stressed that the FIA remains on high alert.

“That shouldn’t be seen as arrogance – the teams are obviously still trying to get the most out of their cars, and we have to remain vigilant,” he said.

The governing body is determined to prevent teams from exploiting loopholes, particularly through sophisticated designs that might mask flexibility under specific conditions.

“Our view is: A car that passes the FIA tests is generally legal, unless there are hidden mechanisms or things based on non-linear properties, temperatures, or similar things. In such cases, we intervene.

“In principle, we would never report a team that has passed the tests to the stewards. But specifically on this issue, and for precisely these reasons, the rules give us the right to conduct additional stiffness tests.”

The FIA’s focus on aerodynamic compliance extends beyond rear wings. Starting at the Spanish Grand Prix in June, additional front wing tests will be introduced to further tighten regulations.

This proactive approach underscores the governing body’s commitment to maintaining a level playing field, even as teams push the boundaries of engineering innovation.

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