Spanish Grand Prix Flexi-Wing Tests: Initial Reactions and Analysis

The Spanish Grand Prix brought heightened scrutiny regarding aero-elasticity, with teams modifying front wings in response to intensified FIA monitoring. Despite expectations,initial results following the implementation of stricter tests have been met with varied reactions.

Mercedes’ George Russell commented with sarcasm, “It clearly slowed McLaren down a lot. So, yeah, good news.”

The focus on front and rear wing flexing for aerodynamic advantages has been a persistent topic. The FIA’s response included introducing high-definition cameras and tightening tolerances to monitor wing behaviour at high speeds.

While some teams, like Red Bull, pushed for immediate action, the FIA delayed the implementation of tougher tests until the Spanish GP, citing economic reasons to avoid teams discarding existing designs early in the season.

Friday’s practice sessions at the Spanish GP saw McLaren leading, which tempered expectations that the new tests would immediately reshuffle the competitive order. Reactions across the grid ranged from dismissing any significant impact to calling for more data.

Fernando Alonso noted,”I think the car feels similar. And I think the competitiveness is similar to the last few events. So I don’t think that it did change massively.”

Esteban Ocon echoed this sentiment, stating, “On that side, I think it was very similar. It didn’t make a big change or shift for us, so I think it’s the same thing as usual for us.”

Max Verstappen remarked,”If you look at the standings,not a lot… But from my side, that was also not really expected.”

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Where do we go from here?

Verstappen has consistently attributed the performance gap between McLaren and Red Bull to his car’s handling characteristics rather than McLaren’s aero-elasticity. Red Bull’s management has been vocal about McLaren potentially exploiting a “secret sauce.”

Any gains from aero-elasticity would likely be subtle, despite the visual drama of flexing wings. All composite components exhibit some degree of flex, raising the question of how much flex is acceptable and whether it’s being intentionally exploited for performance gains.

The focus is on minute movements that can affect performance.

While straight-line speed improvements from wing flex are secondary,the primary goal is to enhance balance. Modern ground-effect F1 cars are prone to sudden shifts between understeer and oversteer in corners.

Stricter wing stiffness regulations are expected to have a subtle impact, intricate by the fact that none of this season’s cars have prior data from this specific circuit. additionally,different tracks favor different teams,with Barcelona potentially suiting Red Bull’s car,according to McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.

It remains challenging to definitively assess the impact of the flexi-wing clampdown based on a single day of testing, especially with teams introducing new wing profiles for performance reasons alongside compliance.

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur stated,”It’s too early for us [to say what difference the tests have made]. But at the end of the day, it’s not that you can expect to have big delta of lap time between the teams.”