Williams has been summoned to the stewards at the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix for failing to submit video files of the onboard cameras that monitor the contentious flexi-wings.
Teams are obliged provide evidence of their use of the wings via the videos, which are taken from cameras mounted on the wings, facing forward and rearward.
However, the Grove-based squad “failed to provide the video files recorded by the wireless forward and rearward facing cameras within one hour after the end of the first free practice session”, according to the F1 technical delegate, Jo Bauer, who referred the issue to the stewards.
Williams representatives have been asked to report to the stewards’ office by 8.30am on Saturday morning.
Inability to provide any evidence breaches technical directive 34L, which was introduced at last week’s Australian Grand Prix.
The FIA’s clampdowns to combat the exploitation of any loopholes seemed to fail, with further regulation changes requiring all 10 teams must prepared rear wings that flex at a limit of 0.5mm, 0.2mm down from under a vertical load-bearing test of 75kg, with a tolerance of 0.25mm for this weekend’s race only.
The issue first reared its head last year at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, when the rear wing of Oscar Piastri’s McLaren was spotted to be flexing through the slot gap, which in turn conjured a DRS-like effect – now known as ‘mini-DRS’ – enabling the Australian’s victory at that race.
From Round 9 – the Spanish Grand Prix – onwards, the FIA will also enforce a new maximum front wing flex from 15mm to 10mm, in order to further curb any further anomalies.
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