FIA Dismisses Complaints About McLaren and Mercedes Front Wings
Formula 1’s governing body has dismissed complaints from Red Bull and Ferrari regarding the legality of the front wings on the McLaren and Mercedes cars.
Red Bull and Ferrari believed that the front wings flexed excessively, thus violating the regulations. However, the FIA stated on Tuesday, “All front wings are currently compliant with the 2024 regulations.”
Neither Red Bull nor Ferrari has formally protested against the wings on the McLaren and Mercedes cars, despite their concerns. The FIA’s statement came in response to remarks made after Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, primarily from Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, and Ferrari’s Frederic Vasseur.
Horner remarked, “The regulations are very clear, and that’s an FIA issue. Obviously, they are tested, and they pass, but then you have to consider the wording of the regulations.”
He continued, “It’s an FIA issue, so we’ll leave it and trust them to handle it.”
Marko emphasized, “The front wing of McLaren and Mercedes must be analyzed.”
Vasseur added, “This is a discussion I prefer not to have with you. I will discuss it with [FIA single-seater director Nikolas] Tombazis.”
The complaints emerged amidst the notable increase in competitiveness of McLaren and Mercedes in recent months. Red Bull, which dominated the early part of the season, now faces mounting pressure from McLaren in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
World Champion Max Verstappen admitted they are still unsure how to tackle the challenges affecting their car’s performance, stating after the Italian Grand Prix, “At the moment, both championships are not realistic.”
Verstappen, who has not secured a win since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, holds a 62-point lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris with eight races remaining in the season, offering a total of 232 points available. McLaren is just eight points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ championship.
The FIA further clarified that it is consistently monitoring the flexibility of bodywork and has been using new onboard cameras since the Belgian Grand Prix in July. The governing body stated, “The FIA has the right to introduce new tests if any irregularities are suspected.
There are no immediate plans for short-term measures, but we are assessing the situation with medium and long-term strategies in mind,” an FIA spokesperson explained.
In this context, short-term refers to this season, medium-term to next year, and long-term to 2026.
The controversy surrounding the front wings has been escalating, particularly after footage from an onboard camera revealed the bending and oscillation of McLaren’s front wing at Monza. If a wing can be designed to flex appropriately, it can enhance speed on straightaways by decreasing drag and then restore downforce by returning to a different angle in corners.
While the current scrutiny is focused on McLaren and Mercedes, Red Bull has also been at the center of similar discussions in the past. For example, in 2021, the FIA modified the rules after complaints regarding the Red Bull front wing.
The FIA confirmed it reviews front wings at every event and has been “acquiring additional data since the Belgian race with an FIA-mandated video camera that captures areas of the front wing not visible through official F1 cameras.” This evaluation will continue “at least” through the upcoming races in Azerbaijan and Singapore this month to ensure every team is utilizing the mandated FIA camera on different track types.
“This will create a comprehensive database, allowing the FIA to objectively assess the situation and quantify differences between various dynamic patterns observed on track,” the statement concluded.
What impact do you think this controversy will have on the championship as the season progresses?
