McLaren and Ferrari’s rear wings have sparked fresh FIA investigations following Red Bull complaints over potential 2025 F1 rule breaches, with the governing body set to conduct factory inspections.
The accusations center on the so-called “mini-DRS” effect, a contentious technical innovation that has been under scrutiny since its emergence in recent seasons.
This move comes after Red Bull’s technical director Pierre Wache voiced concerns during pre-season testing in Bahrain, suggesting that both McLaren and Ferrari’s rear wings may be exploiting loopholes in the revised aerodynamic rules for 2025 F1.
These regulations were specifically designed to eliminate the mini-DRS effect, which allowed teams to gain a speed advantage by subtly manipulating their rear wings outside designated DRS zones.
The mini-DRS effect first gained notoriety during the 2024 season when McLaren introduced a rear wing design that left small DRS flaps slightly open even when the system was not activated.
This innovation provided a huge boost in straight-line speed, prompting protests from rival teams and eventual regulatory changes by the FIA. However, footage from the Bahrain F1 testing suggests that similar designs may still be in use, sparking the controversy once again.
Red Bull’s technical team closely examined footage and data from McLaren and Ferrari’s rear wings with FUnoAnalisiTecnica reporting they have prepared an official file detailing their concerns, which has prompted the FIA to take action.
The energy drinks manufacturer has put immense pressure for the two teams to face FIA investigations before the season opener in Melbourne. In response, the governing body has already announced plans to conduct thorough inspections on all cars ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
This includes visits to McLaren’s headquarters in Woking and Ferrari’s base in Maranello, where FIA officials will scrutinize the rear wing designs of cars driven by high-profile drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and Lando Norris.
Ferrari, for its part, has dismissed the accusations as baseless. The Italian team remains confident that its designs comply with the updated regulations and has expressed a willingness to cooperate fully with the FIA’s investigation.
Meanwhile, McLaren has yet to issue an official statement on the matter but finds itself under heightened scrutiny due to its history with mini-DRS controversies.
The stakes are high for all parties involved. If McLaren and Ferrari’s rear wings are found to have breached the rules, potential penalties could range from mandatory design modifications to disqualification from races.
On the other hand, if their designs are deemed legal, it could force other teams to adopt similar concepts in a bid to remain competitive. Such an outcome would likely lead to further regulatory adjustments as the FIA seeks to maintain a level playing field.
This situation underscores the ongoing tension between innovation and regulation in Formula 1. The sport has long been a battleground for engineers seeking to push technological boundaries while staying within the confines of ever-evolving rules.
The mini-DRS saga is merely the latest example of how teams exploit technical gray areas to gain an edge over their rivals.
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For Red Bull, this controversy also serves as an opportunity to reassert its dominance after a challenging 2024 season. Despite starting strong last year, they struggled with inconsistent performances and technical setbacks in the latter half of the season allowing McLaren and Ferrari to close the gap significantly.
Max Verstappen – now a four-time world champion – has openly expressed his desire for a more competitive 2025 F1 campaign. Therefore, calling out potential rule violations could just be a tactic for his team to get some edge over its rivals.
However, the timing of the FIA investigation on McLaren and Ferrari’s rear wings might turn out to be blind shot given that pre-season testing does not involve rigorous compliance checks.
This means that any questionable designs observed during testing may not face formal scrutiny until race weekends begin. As such, Red Bull’s decision to raise these concerns publicly could influence how other teams approach their car setups for Melbourne and beyond.
