Formula 1's regulatory authority has declared the controversial front wing designs of the newly improved McLaren and Mercedes teams fully compliant with current rules.
Red Bull, which has been less competitive lately, and Ferrari have raised concerns that the front wings of their key competitors might be flexing excessively, potentially breaching the intended spirit of the regulations.
This issue isn't new in 2024. During recent races, the FIA has installed mandatory cameras on the front wings to scrutinize their movement at high speeds.
According to Auto Motor und Sport, Nikolas Tombazis, the single-seater director of the FIA, has confirmed that these monitoring tests will continue up until the Singapore Grand Prix.
However, even if any issues are identified, Tombazis cautions: "We will not react until 2025 at the earliest, if it becomes necessary."
He further explained, "It would have too much impact not only on the aerodynamics, but also on the structure of the parts. So even if we were to announce a new rule today, the teams would not be ready before Abu Dhabi."
Meanwhile, the FIA has also released a statement this week asserting that the front wing designs on the McLaren and Mercedes cars comply fully with the regulations and tests as they currently exist.
Despite this assurance, the governing body based in Paris acknowledges the ongoing debate.
"The front wing has been a challenging area throughout the years because the aerodynamic loading patterns between different competitors vary and it is therefore difficult to find a load vector which will cover all types of front-wing construction," the statement reads.
"Other areas of the car, including rear wing and floor edges, have much more consistent aerodynamic loading patterns across the grid, making for a more universal load-deflection test."
The FIA added, "The FIA has the right to introduce new tests if irregularities are suspected. There are no plans for any short-term measures, but we are evaluating the situation with the medium and long-term in mind."
Auto Motor und Sport explains that the front wings on the McLaren and Mercedes cars for 2024 are "particularly innovative," featuring a dual bending mechanism where the flaps fold backwards and the entire wing rotates around a horizontal axis.
For Red Bull, the current strategy is clear: adapt to what the competitors are doing.
"We'll have to build a wing like that too," confirmed team principal Christian Horner.
