Formula 1 is set to impose a new restriction on flexi-wings at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, which has received varied predictions from the motorsport chiefs.
After Round 9 of the upcoming season, the maximum flex of the front wings will be reduced from 15mm to 10mm, whereas new rear wing restrictions will come into effect immediately.
The regulation change comes after McLaren and Mercedes were accused of abusing the flexi-wing restrictions in 2024, which led to the FIA ordering a technical directive at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The governing body found no wrongdoing, to the frustration of Red Bull and Ferrari, and it vowed not to change its rules going forward.
However, in the months building up to the new season, the FIA went back on its word and introduced stricter rear wing flex tests to start from the Australian Grand Prix, then harsher tests for the front wing in Spain.
Aston Martin Team Principal, Andy Cowell, isn’t concerned by the new directive, and he feels it really isn’t a “big fuss”.
“I think everybody’s always had a flexi wing, and the FIA have always come up with a way of measuring the flexibility that’s permitted,” Cowell told media including Motorsport Week.
“The numbers change, we’ll adapt to that. I don’t see it as a big fuss, we’ll move forward.
“It’s another flexible element regulation interpretation change.
“I don’t know how many have been over the last two decades.
“You’ll know better than me.”
Horner and Brown deliver verdicts on flexi wing restrictions
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner and McLaren CEO Zak Brown also gave their opinions on the effect of the flexi wing clampdown and both held similar views on the topic.
Horner believes it will be difficult to assess which teams, if any, suffer massively from the incoming flexi-wing regulation changes.
Yet, he was more concerned by the timing of when the rules are set to be enforced, suggesting teams will continue to exploit the current regulations until then.
“Yeah, it’ll be interesting the effect that it has – I guess the slight oddball about it is the timing of it,” Horner said.
“Why race nine? It might have been better to have been addressed during the off season, because you end up doing sort of two specs of wings.
“But who will gain or who will lose from it, I think, is impossible to predict.”
Brown agreed, insisting how he expects for there to be very little change from the outcome of the regulation change.
“I don’t think it’s a significant change for us,” he explained.
“I think it’s too hard to tell who wins or loses over it, because I don’t think it’s going to be a material change for anybody.
“I’m not expecting there to be a winner and loser, or some change in the pecking order at that time because of that change.”
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