TECH WEEKLY: How every F1 team reacted to the front wing flexing clampdown in Spain – and what changed on track

At the Spanish Grand Prix, the FIA introduced stricter front wing flexibility tests to address what it viewed as two key performance advantages teams were exploiting: reduction of flap angles at high speeds and leveraging back of the mainplane assembly. These mechanisms allowed teams to balance low-speed understeer with high-speed oversteer, a longstanding challenge in Formula 1 car design.

The Two Mechanisms in Focus

1. Flap Angle Reduction
   At high speeds, flexible front wing flaps could automatically reduce their angle, cutting drag and shifting aerodynamic balance rearward. This helped stabilize cars in fast corners while maintaining low-speed agility.

2. Mainplane Leveraging
   The entire front wing assembly was designed to flex backward under load, lowering the wing closer to the ground. This enhanced ground effect, increasing downforce without adding drag—a critical gain on circuits with long straights and high-speed corners.

Why the FIA Acted

The new rules, effective from Spain, tightened deflection limits:

• Symmetric load test (both sides of the wing): Reduced from 15mm to 10mm at 1000N.

• Asymmetric test (single side): Dropped from 20mm to 15mm.

These changes aimed to curb “aeroelastic” gains, which some rivals argued gave certain teams an unfair edge. Some team principals called the update a potential “gamechanger,” while others downplayed its impact, noting that teams had anticipated minimal performance loss.

On-Track Impact

Despite the clampdown, McLaren locked out the front row in Spain, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri qualifying two-tenths ahead of Max Verstappen. McLaren emphasized that the revised wing had been tested since Imola and was nearly indistinguishable from its predecessor. However, subtler effects emerged:

• Balance Adjustments: Teams now face tougher trade-offs between low-speed grip and high-speed stability.

• Drag Reduction: While front wing angle changes alone have minimal drag impact, combined mainplane flexing previously allowed larger drag cuts by optimizing ground effect.

Team Reactions

• McLaren: Insisted the TD’s impact was “negligible,” relying on a single stiffened component.

• Ferrari: Hoped the rules would reset the competitive order, citing improved front-end exploitation.

• Red Bull: Remained vocal about flexi-wing advantages but struggled to close McLaren’s gap in Spain.

The Bigger Picture

The FIA’s phased approach—adjusting rules mid-season—reflects its struggle to balance fairness with technical innovation. While McLaren’s dominance persisted in Spain, the long-term effects may surface on circuits like Silverstone or Suzuka, where high-speed aero efficiency is paramount. As teams adapt, the clash between regulatory intent and engineering creativity continues to define F1’s technical arms race.

For now, the Spanish GP proved that even well-intentioned rule changes won’t overhaul the pecking order overnight—but they’ve added a new layer of complexity to F1’s aero chess game.