Mercedes Jokes About ‘Space Alien’ After New F1 Rule Change

Mercedes offered a light-hearted comment after the FIA introduced stricter front-wing rules during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend. James Allison, Mercedes’ technical director, joked that “space aliens” would not have noticed any difference in the race, despite the new technical directive.

The latest flexi-wing regulation aimed to prevent teams from gaining an advantage through excessive wing movement. At Barcelona, renewed tests increased the load applied to front wings and lowered the amount of flex allowed, keeping cars within tighter restrictions.

The new rules were designed to speed up competitors and minimize advantages held by top teams using flexible wings. However, McLaren appeared completely unfazed, leading every session at the Spanish Grand Prix and setting a fastest race lap 1.2 seconds quicker than anyone else. Read more about McLaren’s commanding performance.

Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, was the next fastest but could not match McLaren’s pace throughout the weekend.

Mercedes bounced back in Spain following a disappointing outing in Monaco where the team left without points. George Russell secured a solid fourth-place finish after matching that position in qualifying.

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli was also in contention for points before being let down by a sudden power unit failure. The team is still investigating the cause of this issue.

Discussing the flexi-wing directive’s effectiveness, Allison explained that the wings are now stiffer, making the car more difficult to handle at high speeds. This change can unsettle a car when entering fast corners, but teams can adjust setups in other areas to counteract the effect.

“Even if you can’t overcome it fully, it applies to everyone else too,” Allison pointed out. This means the competitive order on the grid is not expected to shift much, as all teams face the same challenges from the new rule.

Elsewhere in the race, the intense battle between Max Verstappen and George Russell captured attention, leading to dramatic moments and extensive discussions among fans and analysts. Detailed coverage on the Verstappen and Russell clash is available.

Mercedes’ results placed them back in the points race, but the top spot remains tightly contested, especially after McLaren’s commanding performance.

Heading into upcoming events, eyes will remain on how teams adapt to the revised technical guidelines and whether McLaren’s advantage endures. Engineers across the paddock continue to seek the best balance and reliability under the updated regulations.

Attention will also focus on Kimi Antonelli’s car as Mercedes works to resolve his power unit issue ahead of the next round.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.