Formula One’s governing body the FIA has responded to concerns about the flexible front wings on McLaren and Mercedes cars by saying all teams are complying with current regulations.
The FIA has confirmed that all Formula 1 front wings for 2024 have passed rigorous testing and are in compliance with regulations. This comes after Ferrari and Red Bull expressed concerns about the front wing designs of McLaren and Mercedes after the Italian Grand Prix. Since the Belgian Grand Prix, the FIA has been using advanced cameras to monitor front wing movement and assess the effectiveness of current bending tests. The aim is to determine whether these tests are sufficient or need to be improved. The FIA has made it clear that their main goal is to collect data, not to punish teams. They are focused on maintaining the integrity of the sport and ensuring fair competition.
F1: What does the FIA say?
As part of Technical Directive 034G, the FIA has been using high-resolution cameras and tracking points to monitor the flexibility of the front wings since the Belgian Grand Prix. While all teams passed inspections and load tests, Ferrari, Red Bull and Williams were concerned about the flexibility of the McLaren and Mercedes front wings and raised these concerns with the FIA.
Also read: F1: McLaren increases championship pressure, Christian Horner admits Red Bull RB20 has weaknesses
An FIA statement said: “The FIA carries out numerous checks on the front wings (surface consistency, deflection consistency) at every race for compliance with the relevant F1 Technical Regulations. All front wings currently comply with the 2024 regulations.”
“Since the Belgian Grand Prix, the FIA has acquired additional data during FP1 and FP2 to assess dynamic behaviour via FIA-authorised cameras that capture areas of the front wing that are not visible to the official FOM cameras.”
Also read: F1: McLaren’s Oscar Piastri says Lance Stroll ‘drove like it was his first go-kart race’
McLaren has emerged as one of the fastest teams this season, trailing Red Bull by just eight points in the constructors’ standings. Mercedes has also made a strong comeback, winning the last three races, while the once-dominant Red Bull has gone seven races without a win since the Spanish Grand Prix in June.
Although the FIA can introduce new tests if it suspects any problems, they say there are currently no plans to do so.
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.