Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, has introduced tougher tests to limit rear wing flexibility at this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.
The decision comes after FIA officials observed rear wing deformations during the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
While stricter tests had already been implemented in Australia, further analysis of onboard footage prompted the FIA to impose even tighter restrictions starting in Shanghai.
New Rear Wing Test Parameters
For the Chinese Grand Prix, the FIA has revised its testing procedure to restrict the movement of the slot gap—the space between the mainplane and flap of the rear wing.
The updated test mandates that this gap must not exceed 0.75mm when a 75kg vertical load is applied in the pit lane.
A 0.25mm tolerance has been granted due to the short notice given to teams. However, this will be removed for the Japanese Grand Prix (April 4-6), reducing the permitted slot gap to 0.5mm.
For context, the previous limit in Australia allowed a 2mm slot gap, making this a significant reduction.
Why the FIA Is Cracking Down
The FIA’s latest move aims to prevent teams from exploiting flexible wings for a competitive advantage.
Teams have long experimented with wing flexing to improve performance, with the concept working as follows:
Under high-speed conditions, a flexible wing bends or deforms, reducing drag and increasing straight-line speed.
As the car slows for corners, the wing returns to its original shape, generating maximum downforce for better grip.
This technique allows teams to maximize cornering speed without sacrificing straight-line performance, making it an attractive loophole under current regulations.
However, the FIA is determined to curb these aerodynamic tricks to ensure fair competition.
Further Crackdowns Coming
The FIA has also confirmed that tougher tests on front-wing flexing will be introduced for the Spanish Grand Prix (May 30 – June 1), signaling its ongoing commitment to stricter aerodynamic regulations.
For now, all teams have been notified of the latest changes, with compliance expected in Shanghai and beyond.
