The FIA’s directive to Formula 1 teams this week that it plans video checks of flexi wings at the Belgian Grand Prix prompted fears of potential controversy on the horizon.
With there being an increased use of flexible front wings by teams up and down the grid to help better balance their cars, any mid-season change in this area could have implications on the relative performance of squads.
Even a small shift in the strengths or weaknesses of F1’s frontrunners, with things being so close at the front, could in theory dictate how the rest of the championship battle plays out.
But Motorsport.com has learned that the main motivation for the new flexi-wing checks is not to trigger a potential clampdown on what teams are doing right now.
Instead, it is more about helping the FIA get a clearer picture of what teams are doing with the front wing – with a view to then seeing if changes need to be made for 2025 and beyond to make F1’s regulations better.
According to sources, the FIA’s long-standing stance that it is happy that there is nothing wrong with what is currently being run, made clear to teams in recent Technical Advisory Committees, remains in force despite what is being planned for Belgium.
“The FIA has decided starting from Belgium onward for an indefinite period of time to measure the overall front wing deformation on track,” an FIA spokeperson explained. “The FOM forward facing cameras are unfortunately not capable of capturing the complete front wing as a large outboard part is not covered by the angle.
“The intent will therefore be to measure across several events all front wings with a camera provided by the FIA which will be installed on the nose (in place of current camera housings) offering a sideways view. The collected data will be used to enhance overall understanding of bodywork flexibility when defining future regulations.
“It is also reiterated that all front wings checked so far this season have passed the existing deflection tests and are deemed legal. This new technical directive is the result of a long-standing desire to better capture front wing behavior under aerodynamic load.”
What is coming for Spa
The issue of flexi wings has been ever-present in modern F1, with constant questions being raised over the flexibility of components – be they floors, rear wings or front wings.
In the technical directive sent to F1 teams this week, the FIA notified competitors that some of them…
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