Fins too flexible: teams at risk of sanction

With the introduction by the FIA of a new regulation on “flexible” wings from the French Grand Prix, some teams are becoming increasingly concerned about the advantages their rivals can gain by continuing to use their flexible designs for the next two races.

The advantage of a flexible rear wing is minimal at the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend due to a very twisty track with few straight lines. However, it could offer a clear advantage in Baku, which features the longest straight line of the championship – two kilometers at full throttle. The twisting of the wing allows some cars to gain several km/h on the straight.

The head of the Mercedes team, Toto Wolff, does not understand why the introduction of the new tests has been delayed by four weeks. He fears that F1 may find itself in a complex legal situation if protests are lodged in Baku.

« Delaying the introduction [of the regulation] for any reason leaves us in a legal vacuum and opens the door to protests,” Wolff said at the Monaco Grand Prix.

« It is not just us, but probably two other teams that are the most affected, maybe more, and obviously a protest could end up in front of the ICA [International Court of Appeal]. This is a delicate situation that could take weeks before we have a result. »

According to Toto Wolff, it is clear that an immediate introduction of new tests would have been unfair. On the other hand, he believes it would make no sense for the deadline to be postponed beyond Baku.

“[…] the door open to protests.” Toto Wolff

« It is incomprehensible that in four weeks you cannot stiffen the rear wing for the track that is probably the most effective for flexible rear wings. This leaves us in a no man’s land, as the technical directive states that the movement of certain rear wings has been deemed excessive. Therefore, teams using this type of wing could start to protest, it will probably go to the ICA, and nobody needs this delicate situation. »