Mercedes team principal, Ross Brawn, understands that the FIA will change the tests it carries out on the front-wings to finally determine whether or not the Red Bull and Ferrari wings, which have been shown to flex under pressure, are in fact legal.
The wings have so far passed the stringent weight tests conducted by the FIA before and after the races. However, Brawn believes the reason they have passed is because the current tests aren’t correct.
“I understand that there may be some changes in the way the tests are done, but obviously the cars involved pass the current tests,” he is quoted as saying by Autosport. “And the argument is that if they pass the current test, then the tests are not correct.
“You can clearly see on the track that there is quite a dramatic difference between the cars, which is part of the game – I’ve been there myself so what normally happens is that the FIA improve the tests and I think that is what is going to happen.”
The FIA has the right to conduct further tests and it is understood that they will increase the load put on the wing from 50kg to 100kg, allowing a flex of 20mm, rather than 10mm.
Brawn is hoping the new tests will find the wings to be in breach of the regulations, meaning his team won’t need to embark on a costly development race.
“That is our dilemma at the moment. It is our dilemma, McLaren’s dilemma. I don’t know how they do it yet, but if we devoted enough resource to it then I am sure we could end up in the same situation. But we would rather not do it.
“So we want to see some clarity because it would be very relevant for next year. And if that is considered the accepted approach, then we will want to tackle it for next year.”
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