F1 news: The FIA clampdown on F1’s ‘flexible wings’ saga explained
‘Flexi-wings’ caused quite the kerfuffle during the 2024 Formula 1 season, and as a result, 2025 has seen the FIA tighten a technical directive.
The revised technical directive, TD018, will come into effect from the 2025 F1 Spanish Grand Prix, with thorough wing tests to follow in the following rounds.
TD018 explained
Under TD018, teams will now face stricter limitations on the flexibility of their wings.
Previously, the wings were allowed to flex up to 15mm, but this will now be reduced to a maximum of 10mm.
This change will apply to the rear wings from the very first race of the season, while the front wings will be subject to the new rules starting at the Spanish GP in May.
The ‘flexi-wings’ phenomenon has long been a key part of a car's front-end aerodynamics.
As a result, the FIA's decision to implement changes starting with the rear wings in 2025 makes sense.
This phased approach gives teams time to adjust, allowing engineers to learn and adapt to the revised rules on rear wings before the front wing changes take effect later in the season.
The reason teams are so keen on flexible wings is primarily due to aerodynamic advantages.
When a wing flexes under load, it can change its angle, reducing drag and improving straight-line speed.
This allows teams to run a higher downforce configuration at lower speeds and then reduce drag when reaching high speeds, enhancing overall performance.
The flexibility effectively "adapts" the wing to different aerodynamic conditions during a race, providing a significant advantage on straights and corners.
This is why flexible wings became such a controversial subject in 2024.
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The drama surrounding ‘flexi-wings’
The flexible wing issue gained significant attention in 2024, as teams like Red Bull and McLaren found themselves at odds over what some claimed to be illegal aerodynamic benefits.
Early in the season, Red Bull accused McLaren of using flexible rear wings to gain an ‘unfair’ advantage.
This led to McLaren abandoning their innovation under pressure from the FIA.
With the technical directive being changed for 2025, there has been speculation that McLaren might have pushed the FIA to introduce these new rules to slow down Red Bull.
However, these claims have been debunked, with experts noting that McLaren themselves were among the best at using flexible wings in 2024, especially during the summer.
Red Bull, in contrast, had only started experimenting with flexible wings late in the season, meaning the new regulations would not significantly disrupt their plans for 2025.
What this means for teams in 2025
While the new rules may slightly affect how teams approach their aerodynamics, the changes are unlikely to have a massive impact on the competitiveness of top teams like Red Bull.
The Milton Keynes-based team has indicated that the new rules won’t be a "game changer" for them, as they had not relied heavily on flexible wings in their design.
As the 2025 season begins, teams will have to adapt to these changes, but the phased approach gives them the time and flexibility to adjust their designs accordingly.
