P1racenews AI automatic summary:
This new regulation has long been in the pipeline for F1 this season. Will there be any effect this weekend?
A week after implementing a mandatory two-stop strategy for the Monaco Grand Prix, F1 now faces new considerations for this weekend, sparking considerable debate.
The issue of flexi-wings has been a hot topic, triggered by team complaints last season, notably against McLaren, prompting the FIA to introduce stricter load-deflection tests for the front and rear wings.
The FIA addressed concerns about rear wings over the winter, applying new load tests to counter ‘slot gap’ openings in the DRS, aiming to eliminate the ‘mini-DRS effect’.
Tombazis, the FIA’s Single-Seater director, stated that toughening the tests for 2025 was necessary due to intensified championship battles and concerns raised by teams focusing on each other’s cars.
Load test regulations were strengthened for rear wings starting in China and Japan races, with FIA giving teams more time to address front-wing concerns to manage costs effectively.
The decision to delay toughened front-wing tests until late in the year was made to avoid burdening teams and incurring additional expenses by scrapping existing wings and introducing new tests at the start of the season.
