F1: FIA Replies to Front flexi-wing Concerns, Says All Teams Comply
The FIA, the governing body of Formula One, addressed concerns raised about the front flexi-wing front on McLaren and Mercedes cars. They stated that all teams are in compliance with the current regulations.
By Divyam Dubey
The FIA has confirmed that all 2024 Formula 1 front wings meet the regulations after passing strict tests. This follows concerns from Ferrari and Red Bull about McLaren and Mercedes' front wing designs after the Italian Grand Prix. Since the Belgian Grand Prix, the FIA has used advanced cameras to monitor front wing movement, assessing the effectiveness of current flex tests. The aim is to determine if these tests are adequate or need improvement. The FIA has made it clear that their main goal is to collect data, not to penalise teams. They are focused on maintaining the sport's integrity and ensuring fair competition.
F1: What did FIA Say?
The FIA has been using high-resolution cameras and tracking dots to monitor front-wing flexibility since the Belgian Grand Prix, as part of Technical Directive 034G. While all teams have passed the checks and load tests, Ferrari, Red Bull, and Williams are worried about the flexibility of the McLaren and Mercedes front wings and have raised these concerns with the FIA.
The FIA statement said: '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 Regulation. All front wings are currently compliant with the 2024 regulations.
'Since the Belgian 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.’
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McLaren has become one of the fastest teams this season, now just eight points behind Red Bull in the constructors' standings. Mercedes has also made a strong comeback, winning three recent races. Meanwhile, Red Bull, once dominant, hasn't won a race since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, a drought of seven races.
Although the FIA can introduce new tests if they suspect any issues, they have stated that there are no current plans to do so.
