F1 governing body to capture suspected “pliable wings”

From Reuters

Before 12 o’clock

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By Alan Baldwin

LONDON – The Formula One governing body has warned teams that it will introduce new flexibility tests for the rear wing next month if the rules are suspected of being bent.

Seven-time Mercedes world champion Lewis Hamilton pointed out the problem after qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix last weekend, which he won.

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“The Red Bulls are very fast on the straights. They have that flexible wing on the back of their car that they put on today and they won at least three-tenths,” the Briton told Sky Sports Television.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told reporters on Sunday that the rear wings of his cars had passed rigorous tests and were legal.

In a message sent to the teams on Tuesday and seen by Reuters, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) technical director Nikolas Tombazis said new load deflection tests will be introduced starting June 15.

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Article 3.8 of the Formula 1 technical regulations states that all components that affect the aerodynamic performance of a vehicle must be “rigidly attached to the fully sprung part of the vehicle” and “remain immobile with respect to the sprung part of the vehicle”.

“We have become aware of some cases where tail designs that meet the requirements of Articles 3.9.3 and 3.9.4 still exhibit excessive deflection while driving,” said Tombazis.

“We believe that such deformations can have a significant impact on the aerodynamic performance of a car and can therefore be considered a violation of the provisions of Article 3.8.”

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No teams were mentioned or specific examples given in the Tombazis note.

“We will look for abnormal behavior in the deformation of the rear wing,” said Tombazis.

“In particular, we do not tolerate sustained out-of-plane deformation that could bypass the symmetrical loading in the load deflection tests.

“If we observe features that indicate that this area is being used, we will introduce additional load deflection tests as necessary.”

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The FIA ​​can run such tests on any part of the body that is suspected of moving once the car is in motion.

The delay in implementing the new tests until just before the French Grand Prix is ​​meant to give the teams time to strengthen their wings and the first month of the new tests will have a tolerance of 20%.

So far there have been four races, three of which were won by Hamilton and one by Max Verstappen of Red Bull. France is expected to be the eighth round. Hamilton has a 14 point lead in the championship.

Horner said last weekend that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff had spoken to him about curvy wings, which the Austrian confirmed.

Reuters