Red Bull Racing has raised concerns about the front wings of its rivals, Ferrari and McLaren. The Austrian team suspects that both teams have a significant amount of flexibility in their materials. However, a front wing should only be able to flex to a certain extent, otherwise, it provides an unfair advantage. Red Bull is now considering introducing ‘flexi-wings’ to enjoy the same benefits.
German publication Auto, Motor und Sport reports that the front wings of McLaren and Ferrari are causing suspicion. Red Bull, who sees these teams as the biggest challengers for the championship, questions the legality of the materials. According to AMuS, Red Bull has tried to raise the issue with the FIA, but without success.
Meanwhile, they are considering their own flexible front wing in Milton Keynes. The Germans report that Red Bull sees no other option than to copy their rivals. “If the FIA continues to tolerate this, then we will simply go the same way with our front wing,” says a team spokesperson.
The History of Flexi-Wings
The flexible front wing is not a new invention – there has been much controversy over bendable parts in recent years. In the pursuit of better performance, several teams pushed the limits regarding the flexibility of the front wing. The so-called ‘flexi-wings’ thus became a known issue for the FIA. During the 2023 Singapore GP, the organization devised a number of new tests to limit the use of flexible front wings.
