Rear wings: 4 teams in the FIA's sights?

As in 2024, rear wings and their flexibility are generating a lot of discussion this year. Even before the start of the season, the FIA ​​announced that tests would be conducted at the first Grand Prix in Australia. And the matter appears far from settled, as the governing body announced it would conduct new, even stricter tests in China this weekend.

« After analyzing the images of the rear wing deformations combined with the static deflections measured inside the FIA ​​garage in Melbourne, the FIA ​​has concluded that there are sufficient grounds for a more stringent test to be introduced from the next Chinese Grand Prix onwards on the upper rear wing., we read in the notice sent at the beginning of the week.

Specifically, Article 3.15.17, introduced in 2025, stipulates that if 75 kg of vertical load is applied to either end of the rear wing's main plane, the distance between the main plane and the flap (also known as the "slot gap") must not vary by more than 2 mm. From the next Shanghai Grand Prix, this limit will be reduced to 0,5 mm. Given the short timeframe for Shanghai, only a 0,25 mm tolerance will be added to this new limit. Teams were informed of this revised test early on Monday, March 17. »

McLaren in the FIA's sights?

So who is likely to play with the limits of the rules or even cross them? Last year, McLaren had caused a lot of talk when it had shown a certain ability to perfectly manage aerodynamic elasticity. This had been seen in Baku whenOscar piastri had incredibly resisted Charles Leclerc, yet with DRS on a straight line of more than 1,5 km.

This also forced the FIA ​​to request a modification to its rear wing. to the Woking training a few days, this one not respecting the technical directive 34 considering as illegal " designs whose structural characteristics are altered by secondary parameters, in order to produce a different deformation characteristic on the track than when stationary during FIA controls ».

Naturally, the topic was on everyone's lips during this first day dedicated to the press in Shanghai this Thursday. Almost no one escaped the questions, especially the drivers of the potentially affected teams, including McLaren. Enough to raise suspicions? Apparently, there's no concern in Woking. Quite the opposite.

« We don't have to change anything, ensures Lando Norris. Il (the fin) is very good. In fact, ours was probably “too good.” We’re probably not pushing the boundaries enough, in all honesty. If this technical directive had been applied last weekend, we would have been within the limits too. So we’re not the ones being targeted.. » Serene, the leader of the championship even assures that the Oranges could " go a little further » and therefore play more with the flexibility of the rear wing of the MCL39 as they are on target.

However, The Race reports that 4 teams are being closely monitored by the FIA, including… McLaren. Ferrari, Haas et Alpine are the other 3. The English media indicates that all the teams "involved" have refuted the idea that this new technical directive would force them to review the design of their current rear wing or to make a modification. Almost obvious since the Federation indicated a few days ago that " all cars that raced in Melbourne were deemed legal "An affair that is likely to liven up this second weekend of the season... already.

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