FIA Introduces Stricter Rear Wing Tests Ahead of Chinese Grand Prix
The FIA is implementing stricter rear wing flexibility tests for the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix following analysis of wing deformations at the Australian Grand Prix.
F1 car racing at high speed
The new regulations reduce the acceptable variance in wing deflection from 2mm to 0.5mm under a 75kg vertical load test. A small 0.25mm tolerance will be added due to the short notice before Shanghai.
This change comes after concerns about teams creating a 'mini-DRS' effect through wing flexibility. The FIA has been monitoring wing deformation using rear-facing cameras during practice sessions, focusing particularly on the gap between wing flaps during DRS activation.
The modification falls under Article 3.15.1 of the Technical Regulations and follows the FIA's earlier announcement of tougher front wing tests scheduled for the Spanish Grand Prix.
While all cars tested at the Australian Grand Prix complied with previous regulations and were deemed legal, the FIA determined stricter controls were necessary based on observed wing behavior during the race weekend.
The teams were notified of these changes early Monday following the Australian Grand Prix, giving them limited time to make necessary adjustments before China.
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