The FIA has rejected Ferrari and Red Bull complaints over the front wings on both McLaren and Mercedes’ Formula 1 challengers.
Both Red Bull’s Christian Horner and Ferrari’s Fred Vasseur expressed concerns over their rivals’ front wings, insinuating they were flexing beyond what is deemed fair through the regulations.
Vasseur said it was a matter he wished to discuss “with [FIA Single-Seater Director] Nikolas Tombazis, but we have to respect the decision of the FIA, but we will deal with it internally with the FIA.”
Horner meanwhile said, “It’s an FIA issue, we’ll leave it and trust in them to deal with it, but if it is acceptable, then you have to join it.”
It looks like Red Bull will have to “join” McLaren and Mercedes’ front-wing design ethos as the FIA released a statement on Tuesday.
“The FIA is examining front wings at every event with numerous checks (conformity of surfaces, conformity of deflections) with respect to the relevant F1 Technical Regulatio,” the statement began.
“All front wings are currently compliant with the 2024 regulations.
“Since the Belgium Grand Prix, the FIA has acquired additional data during FP1 and FP2 sessions to assess dynamic behaviours through an FIA-mandated video camera which captures areas of the front wing which are not visible through the official FOM cameras.
“This exercise will continue at least up until Singapore to ensure every team will have been running the mandated FIA camera on different types of tracks (low, medium, high and very high downforce).
“This will ensure a large database allowing the FIA to draw the most objective picture of the situation and quantify differences between the various dynamic patterns observed on track.”
Since the Belgian Grand Prix, the FIA has employed camera monitoring tests to asses whether its load-bearing flexi-wing checks are strict enough.
The regulations state that “any part of the trailing edge of any front wing flap may deflect no more than 5mm, when measured along the loading axis, when a 60N point load is applied normal to the flap.”
With the McLaren and Mercedes front wings under scrutiny, the FIA was keen to stress that “the front wing has been a challenging area throughout the years, because the aerodynamic loading patterns between different competitors varies and it is therefore difficult to find a load vector which will cover all types of front wing construction.
“Other areas of the car – including rear wing and floor edges – have much more consistent aerodynamic loading patterns across the grid, making for a more universal load-deflection test.
“The FIA has the right to introduce new tests if irregularities are suspected. There are no plans for any short-term measures, but we are evaluating the situation with the medium and long-term in mind.”
This latest development gives Red Bull another headache to solve after enduring a winless run of six races in 2024, a period in which McLaren and Mercedes have won five Grands Prix.
Driver Max Verstappen claimed his car has been turned into a “monster” after finishing sixth in Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix with third place and fastest lap for polesitter Lando Norris narrowing the gap in the Drivers’ Championship between the pair to just 62 points with eight races to go.
More concerning however, is the Constructors’ Championship picture.
Red Bull’s tally of 446 points sees the Milton Keynes-based outfit having a slender margin of just eight points.
