How F1’s New Flexi-Wing Rules Will Shake Up Spanish GP

F1 teams are facing new flexi-wing rules starting from the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The FIA announced earlier this year that stronger checks, in line with the FIA technical regulations, will be introduced on the wings to prevent extreme wing flexing that boosted some teams’ performance in recent races.

Every team will be subjected to tougher load tests focused mainly on the front and rear wings. Teams have already begun designing updates to meet these new standards, with changes expected to be visible when cars arrive in Barcelona.

The impact of these regulations on the competitive order is still uncertain. Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, said the update could be a turning point and might bring the front-running teams closer together.

Jonathan Wheatley, Sauber’s team boss, pointed out that some front-running teams may have benefitted from flexi-wing designs, and the new rules could reduce the gap between teams on the grid. Vasseur’s comments suggest the Spanish Grand Prix could provide crucial insight into which teams had a hidden benefit and who now needs to adjust.

All F1 teams will need to make changes, especially to their front wings, to comply with the latest rules.

Wheatley is optimistic these updates might affect his team less than others, as Sauber has struggled for points this season.

Sauber currently holds 10th place in the constructors’ championship, with only seven points, all from Nico Hulkenberg’s strong finish in Australia. For the Barcelona event, Sauber plans to roll out a major update with several technical improvements, hoping to boost their competitiveness for the rest of the season.

Barcelona is known for its technical and aerodynamic demands, making it a key track to assess each team’s adaptation. Wheatley explained that flexible wings have been part of F1’s ongoing debate, but this year some teams gained speed by taking advantage of that flexibility.

With the new checks, teams will try to recover any lost speed through clever engineering and setup changes. Immediate shifts should be noticeable by qualifying, as teams work hard to avoid losing ground. The significance of qualifying performance was also highlighted recently for the Monaco GP in a similar technical context.

There is a lot of attention on the top teams, especially those rumored to have gained an advantage. Fans and experts are eager to see if Red Bull, Ferrari, or Mercedes need to dial back their wing designs or if midfield teams like Sauber can close the gap.

The results from Barcelona may reveal changes in the pecking order, and development races could intensify as teams look for other ways to regain lost advantage.

This round of changes comes at a busy point in the calendar. The Spanish Grand Prix is set for June 1, followed quickly by Canada and Austria.

All eyes will be on how teams respond to the latest technical directive and whether any team can gain an edge or recapture lost performance with rapid updates. The answers will start coming once the cars hit the track in Barcelona, possibly changing the course of the 2025 F1 season.