McLaren and Mercedes front wings cleared by FIA following rival complaints

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

The FIA has confirmed that the front wing designs of all Formula 1 cars for the 2024 season are in compliance with regulations, following concerns raised by Red Bull and Ferrari regarding McLaren and Mercedes' cars.

Since the start of the season, Red Bull maintained a dominant position. However, the competitive landscape has shifted dramatically since the Miami Grand Prix in May, with both McLaren and Mercedes securing three wins each. This surge has positioned McLaren to potentially surpass Red Bull in the constructors' championship at the upcoming race.

The concerns from Red Bull and Ferrari primarily focus on the flexibility of McLaren and Mercedes' front wings. Footage from an onboard camera during the first practice session at the Italian Grand Prix revealed that McLaren's wing flexed down on the straights but returned to an upright position in the Parabolica corner. While some degree of flexibility is permitted, Red Bull and Ferrari argued that the designs of McLaren and Mercedes exceed the limits set by the regulations.

Both teams sought clarity from the FIA regarding the legality of these front wings. In response, the FIA issued a statement:

"The FIA is examining front wings at every event with numerous checks (conformity of surfaces, conformity of deflections) with respect to the relevant F1 Technical Regulation. All front wings are currently compliant with the 2024 regulations."

The FIA elaborated on its ongoing efforts to monitor compliance:

"Since the Belgium Grand Prix, the FIA has acquired additional data during FP1 and FP2 sessions to assess dynamic behaviours through an FIA-mandated video camera which captures areas of the front wing which are not visible through the official FOM cameras. This exercise will continue at least up until Singapore to ensure every team will have been running the mandated FIA camera on different types of tracks (low, medium, high and very high downforce). This will ensure a large database allowing the FIA to draw the most objective picture of the situation and quantify differences between the various dynamic patterns observed on track."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner addressed the issue:

"I think the regs are very clear, I think that's an FIA issue, so obviously there's a test you pass and then you have to look at the wording of the regulations, if you remember back in '21 certainly around Baku time there was a change to the front wing regulation, even though our wing passed the test it was exploiting an elasticity so that's an FIA issue, we'll leave it with them," he said.

While McLaren and Mercedes have made significant advancements, Red Bull's performance appears to have declined. Max Verstappen described the team's current car as "a monster" at Monza, highlighting their struggles since their last win at the Spanish Grand Prix in June.

Horner suggested that clarity on front wing flexibility might influence Red Bull's development strategy:

"If it's acceptable you have to join it," he said.

Similarly, Ferrari has faced challenges in advancing their car since winning the Monaco Grand Prix in May, despite securing a surprising victory at the Italian Grand Prix with a one-stop strategy that allowed Charles Leclerc to outperform the McLaren cars.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur declined to comment extensively on the front wing issue but mentioned ongoing discussions with the FIA:

"This is a discussion that I don't want to have with you," Vasseur said. "I will have it with Nikolas Tombazis [FIA single seater director], but we have to respect the decision of the FIA that we will have again the discussion."

As the season progresses, the FIA's stringent monitoring and assessments will play a crucial role in ensuring fair competition and the adherence to technical regulations across all teams.

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