FIA explains timing of flexi-wing clampdown starting in Spain

The FIA's long-anticipated clampdown on flexible aerodynamic components – commonly referred to as flexi-wings – is officially coming into effect at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

The governing body has introduced a new technical directive (TD) that significantly tightens regulations and control around front wing flexibility.

Beginning in Barcelona, front wings must now meet stricter flex limitations, with the maximum allowable deflection reduced to either 10mm or 15mm depending on how forces are applied.

The new directive aims to close off a potential avenue of aerodynamic trickery that teams may have been exploiting for performance gains.

Rear wings have already been subject to rigorous testing earlier this season, with slot gap deflection under a 75kg vertical load progressively reduced—from 2mm to 0.75mm in China and then to just 0.5mm in Japan.

The FIA’s Single-Seater Director Nikolas Tombazis explained why the front wing clampdown is only now being enforced, despite investigations concluding as early as last season.

Timing Driven by Fairness and Cost Considerations

“Over a sequence of races at and following the Belgian Grand Prix we installed cameras on the front wings of all cars and again we concluded that the tests would need to be toughened,” said Tombazis.

“That conclusion was arrived at quite late in the year, however, and we felt that if we had introduced extra tests at the start of this season, it would have been tough on teams and may have led to existing front wings being scrapped, and extra expense.

“Therefore, we felt that deferred introduction was more sensible.”

The FIA opted for a mid-season implementation to give teams time to adapt without incurring unnecessary financial strain – an especially sensitive topic amid cost cap regulations.

Championship Pressure Intensifies Scrutiny

Tombazis also acknowledged that the closer championship fights become, the more teams scrutinize each other's cars – inevitably raising concerns over potential rule-bending tactics. That scrutiny, in part, prompted the need for tougher front wing assessments.

“When championship battles become intense, teams tend to focus on each other’s cars a lot, and naturally they raise concerns and over the latter half of the season we came to the conclusion that we needed to toughen a bit more the tests for 2025,” he explained.

Despite the changes coming mid-season, the FIA hopes this will be the last major technical adjustment of the year.

“Obviously it is fair for the FIA to add more flexibility tests or stiffness tests when it judges that a certain area may be getting exploited a bit too much, but yes, we hope it will be the last time we’ll do anything for this year,” Tombazis added.

How the FIA Will Police the New Rules

The FIA will enforce compliance through detailed inspections both before and after races, including in parc fermé conditions to ensure consistency between what is tested and what is raced.

“We check the teams at various points across the season and we ask them to bring certain components along and we’ll check them in isolation and sometimes test them on the whole car,” said Tombazis.

“We frequently test in parc fermé conditions—either on Saturday after qualifying or Sunday morning, as obviously, in parc fermé teams cannot make changes to their car. That ensures that they’re not fitting a stiff wing for the test and running something else in the race.

“We also occasionally conduct checks after a race if we feel there is a reason to do so. Those tests would be static load tests, as defined in Article 3.15 of the Technical Regulations.”

Eyes on 2026: Vigilance Will Remain Key

Looking ahead to Formula 1’s major regulation overhaul in 2026, the FIA is already setting the groundwork for similar oversight mechanisms. Tombazis emphasized that vigilance remains essential in the ever-evolving landscape of technical innovation.

“There are areas where the propensity to have flexible components is less pronounced, because of the straight-line mode, for example and therefore in some areas it may be that at some point we choose to ease the toughness of the tests,” he said.

“But fundamentally the philosophy is the same. We need to be vigilant, and we need to keep testing.

“In fact, we are defining the loads for next year now. So, we will see how the first evolves and if we need to react to maintain fairness, then we will do so.”

As teams prepare for a crucial weekend in Barcelona, the spotlight will not only be on lap times and race strategy—but also on compliance.

The clampdown on flexi-wings marks a pivotal moment in the FIA’s ongoing push to ensure technical fairness across the grid.

Read also: Wolff names team that could gain most from flexi-wing crackdown

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