FIA tightens up rear wing flexibility tests for China

The FIA says it will introduce more strict rear wing load-deflection tests at the next Formula 1 race in China following the analysis of footage of wing deformations at the Australian Grand Prix. Rear wing deflection – and the ability to create what has been widely called a ‘mini-DRS’ – was a talking point towards the end of the 2024 season, and the FIA also increased its focus on the area after pre-season testing. Tougher front wing tests are already scheduled to be introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix later this season, and the FIA brought in a rear wing load-deflection test for the start of this year. As part of that, rear-facing cameras were used in practice sessions so that the FIA could see how wings were deforming at different speeds, with a specific focus on the gap between the two flaps that opens up when DRS is activated. In order to prevent teams managing to open up a smaller gap at high speed, the governing body now says it is reducing the the acceptable variance created by a static load test from 2mm to 0.5mm,when placed under the same load as it was in Melbourne. The teams were informed of the revised test early on Monday following the Australian Grand Prix. The FIA is able to introduce such a change to its processes under Article 3.15.1 of the Technical Regulations. “Having analyzed footage from the rear wing deformations combined to the static deflections measured inside the FIA garage in Melbourne, the FIA has concluded that sufficient grounds exist for a tougher test to be introduced from the forthcoming Chinese Grand Prix on the upper rear wing,” an FIA statement read. “More specifically, Article 3.15.17, introduced in 2025, states that if 75Kg of vertical load is applied on either extremity of the rear wing mainplane, the distance between the mainplane and the flap (also known as ‘slot gap’) must not vary by more than 2mm. From the forthcoming Grand Prix in Shanghai, this limit will be reduced to 0.5mm. “Due to the short notice for Shanghai only a tolerance of 0.25mm will be added to this new limit.” While the FIA is looking to reduce the deformations seen on some cars, it has confirmed that it tested all cars in Australia, with all complying with the previous test demands, and “therefore all cars raced in Melbourne were deemed to be legal.”