from https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-to-introduce-tighter-rear-wing-tests-after-australia-flexing-evidence/

F1 to introduce tighter rear wing tests after Australia flexing evidence
Mar 17, 2025
by Jon Noble, Josh Suttill
3 min read
19 comments

Formula 1 teams will face more stringent rear wing flexibility tests
from the FIA at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix.

The FIA was closely monitoring the on-track deformations exhibited by
the cars during the season-opener in Australia.

Extra high-definition cameras were fitted to some cars to help capture
footage of the rear wings in action out on track during practice, with reference dot stickers attached to the cars to help the FIA’s monitoring.
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Based on analysis of the footage that it captured, alongside static deformations measured inside the FIA garage in Melbourne, the FIA
concluded it needed tougher tests on the upper rear wing immediately, as reported by Autoracer.it.

The FIA already introduced tighter restrictions on rear wing flexibility
for 2025, with the slot gap (distance between the mainplane and the flap
of the rear wing) mandated to not vary by more than 2mm.

That limit will now be reduced to 0.5mm from Shanghai onwards.

Given the short notice of the tighter restrictions - teams were only
informed on the Monday after Melbourne - a tolerance of 0.25mm will be
added to the limit, theoretically making the actual figure 0.75mm for China-only. It will be 0.5mm thereafter.

The FIA clarified that all teams tested in Melbourne were found to
comply with Article 3.15.17 and were deemed legal.

The FIA’s move to tighten up on rear wing flexibility comes against the backdrop of fresh suspicions about aero elasticity tricks this year.

During pre-season testing, Red Bull in particular was unhappy about the behaviour of the rear wings on other cars – as it suspected some wings
were flexing too much and manipulation of the slot gap was taking place.

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The rear wing of the Mercedes was captured on rearward facing cameras
appearing to flex back on the straights, while slot gap expansion
spotted on some cars appeared to mark the return of ‘mini-DRS’ antics.

This latter idea had popped up in the latter stages of last season when
McLaren used its ‘mini-DRS’ to help boost the straightline speed of its
car – and it helped Oscar Piastri win the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

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Following complaints from competitors, and dialogue with the FIA,
McLaren agreed to make modifications to the rear wing to stop the antics.

Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache told The Race during pre-season testing that, despite the FIA’s best efforts, some teams still appeared
to be exploiting this area.

"It is still going on," he said. "I think Ferrari and McLaren are doing
the mini-DRS stuff still."

Other teams had suggested that observation of flow-vis paint on the rear
wings of some cars had also hinted at unusual behaviour taking place in
how the rear wings were flexing at speed.

Beyond the issue of rear wing flexibility, the FIA is introducing
tougher stress tests on front wings from the Spanish GP.


Hughesy
·5 hrs ago
Cue rampant speculation about who will benefit and who will lose out
from the changes. And who has been crying about it.


Avatar
JustAnotherDutchie
·Dutch F1 fan for over 35 years·2 hrs ago (edited)
Well, there is not much speculation about who was crying about it!

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