Flexi wings clampdown adds spice to Spanish GP

There is plenty of intrigue about what the pecking order will be at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix following the FIA’s rule change.

For the first eight races of the 2025 Formula 1 season, the vertical deflection permitted was up to 15mm and 20mm when the load is applied to only one side.

Now the vertical deflection must be no more than 10mm and no more than 15mm when applied to just one side.

During the early part of 2025, both Red Bull and Ferrari have been vocal about the need for the governing body to look at this area, believing it has been a factor behind McLaren’s success as the British team already looks on course to secure back-to-back constructors’ titles.

However, McLaren is adamant that flexi wings are not a secret and these changes should not shake up the pecking order.

But this has not stopped many from suggesting the battle around Circuit de Catalunya this weekend could be closer as a result.

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur especially, believes it could be a “gamechanger.”

“I think Barcelona is on the calendar of everybody in the paddock with the new regulation for the front wing,” Vasseur said.

“At least we are working on it for ages now and this can be a gamechanger for everybody, because we don’t know the impact on every single team of the new regulation.

“We’ll stick to this [at Barcelona], be focused on this, to have the better exploitation of the new front wing.”

“It’s essentially a regulation change,” said Red Bull boss Horner.

“Maybe that will have zero impact on the running order, but it’s a change, and it will affect all the teams – maybe neutrally, but there will be an impact from it.”

But many drivers do not believe it will shake things up too much.

“I don’t think it’s going to affect teams and people as much as people think or as much as is being made about this change of regulation,” Carlos Sainz said. 

“It’s still a front wing and still will be, just obviously run a bit stiffer and it will not flex as much as it did. 

“I wouldn’t expect more than one-tenth swing up or down through the field for each team depending on how much you were flexing or not.”

Despite all the focus on the technical directive, Australia’s Oscar Piastri believes it wont impact McLaren one bit.

“I think the biggest problem is going to be how overhyped it is,” he said.

“We know what’s different. I think everyone will have to change, at least to an extent. 

“I’ve not run the [new] front wing, but Lando’s already run the front wing before this year, so we’re confident. 

“That’s not our magic bullet — we don’t have a magic bullet — but that’s not our main strength.”

Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

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