The FIA has addressed the latest controversy surrounding McLaren’s car at the Italian Grand Prix. They released a statement confirming that the front wings of McLaren and Mercedes comply with the technical regulations, following a complaint from Williams, the third team to raise concerns about a potential flexi-wing issue.
Both Red Bull and Ferrari had previously requested discussions with the FIA after onboard footage from the Italian Grand Prix of the McLaren MCL38 and Mercedes W15 raised questions. It is believed that the effective performance of these teams’ front wings contributes to their strong development progress.
Speaking to Austrian broadcaster ORF, Helmut Marko emphasized the need for an analysis of the McLaren and Mercedes front wings. Christian Horner added that while the regulations are clear and the wings have passed tests, the interpretation of the rules could be reconsidered, referencing a similar situation in 2021 around the Baku Grand Prix.
According to The Mirror, Williams, led by James Vowles and his technical team, has also urged the FIA to scrutinize the front wings of their competitors more closely.
In response to these concerns, the FIA issued a statement on Tuesday stating that they conduct extensive checks on front wings at every event, including surface and deflection conformity checks, in line with the F1 Technical Regulations. This monitoring will continue at least until the Singapore Grand Prix to ensure all teams comply with regulations on different types of tracks (low, medium, high, and very high downforce).
