Why F1 flexi-wing changes failed to shake up the Spanish GP order

Flexible wings remain: what really changes under the new FIA directive?

The FIA’s goal with the introduction of this new directive was certainly not to ban every single flex of the wing profiles, and the current onboard footage confirms this. The new technical regulation has simply reduced the maximum flex limit of the front wing flaps, which is why it’s still possible to see the wings bend as speed increases. It’s important to clarify that the FIA could not have entirely eliminated flap flex, because the loads to w…

VERDICT: How did new load test affect teams' performance on the opening day?

Following the opening day at the Spanish Grand Prix, the first signs indicate that the new, stricter front wing load test might have a smaller effect on the pecking order than previously anticipated. F1Technical’s senior writer Balazs Szabo analyses the results from Day 1 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

Why F1 flexi-wing changes failed to shake up the Spanish GP order

“It clearly slowed McLaren down a lot,” said Mercedes’ George Russell, voice freighted with sarcasm.“So, yeah, good news.”Ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix the issue of aero-elasticity had acquired so much momentum that it was virtually the only show in town. To look out on the panoramic vista of the pitlane from the media centre on Friday morning was to see TV ...Keep reading

Why F1 flexi-wing changes failed to make an instant impact at Spanish GP

“It clearly slowed McLaren down a lot,” said Mercedes’ George Russell, voice freighted with sarcasm.“So, yeah, good news.”Ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix the issue of aero-elasticity had acquired so much momentum that it was virtually the only show in town. To look out on the panoramic vista of the pitlane from the media centre on Friday morning was to see TV ...Keep reading

Gary Anderson's early winners and losers from F1's flexi-wing clampdown

It’s only the end of the first day of the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, but it offers a glimpse of which Formula 1 teams may have benefitted, and which appear to have suffered most, from the flexi-wing technical directive.I have often said that sometimes you can out-trick yourself and when you are relying on front wing deflection between slow and high-speed corners to help balance the car it will be very difficult to get the optimum from it for al…