A number of Formula 1 Team bosses have shared their thoughts on the FIA’s technical directive to clampdown flexi-wings in preparation of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
With the implementation of a new technical directive by the F1 governing body this weekend, teams will be subject to more scrutiny with regard to Technical Regulations Article 3.2.2, which addresses on the improper application of flexible wing components for aerodynamic performance that is prohibited.
The most recent technical directive mandates that teams submit cross-sections and assembly drawings for inspection as part of tighter oversight of the wing, wing endplates, assemblies, and nose attachments.
Several team bosses were asked for their thoughts during the Italian Grand Prix weekend amid rumors that some teams are allegedly manipulating the rules to include flexi-wings in their individual packages.
“The FIA, they have a lot of information,” McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella said. “They can see things that other teams can’t see in terms of respecting cars.
“We 100% trust their judgement and their approach and if they thought that it was the time to release a Technical Directive then it means that there is a reason for that.
“We are not very concerned about that, to be honest, so we take the positive that if the FIA felt it was needed.
“It means that there is something to clamp down and for us I think is good news.”
Along with Stella, Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur backed the proposal by citing the F1 rules’ definition of a technical directive.
“By definition, a TD is a clarification of the regulation,” he explained. “We have to trust the FIA that if they consider that they have to do the TD.
“It’s probably that the regulation was not clear enough and we trust the FIA in this direction to do that.”
Vasseur’s assertion was backed by Red Bull team owner Christian Horner, who also said that Singapore would make it possible for the FIA to identify any flexi-wing culprits.
“Yeah, I think Fred’s summed it up there,” he added. “It’s not something that affects us.
“We’ve seen a few rubbery nose boxes, shall we say, so we’ll see those get addressed, I guess, in Singapore.”
However, Horner’s remarks somewhat differ from those of Mercedes’ Toto Wolff, who stated: “If maybe a Red Bull is half a second slower or something, that would be nice, but I don’t think it will be the case.”
Wolff and Mercedes will need to keep putting in a lot of effort to close the gap to the F1 leaders given that Horner is convinced Red Bull won’t be negatively impacted by the clampdown.
Max Verstappen claimed a record-setting 10th consecutive victory last time out at Monza for Red Bull, the only team to have won thus far in the 2023 F1 season.
