Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, has raised concerns about the legality of the rear wing used by McLaren during the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix, calling it “not legal.” This claim comes after a review of footage from the race showed that the slot gap on McLaren’s wing expanded on high-speed straights, which led to scrutiny from both the FIA and rival teams. The incident sparked a broader discussion about the aerodynamic designs that teams employ, particularly concerning flexible wing elements that could enhance performance.
Following McLaren’s victory in Azerbaijan, where Oscar Piastri managed to fend off Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in an intense race, the FIA investigated the behavior of McLaren’s rear wing. While the design passed initial static load tests, the governing body ultimately found the wing’s performance unacceptable. In light of this, McLaren agreed to make adjustments to its low-drag wing configuration to comply with FIA regulations. The FIA also issued updated guidelines to clarify acceptable designs for all teams, indicating that flexibility in rear wings would be closely monitored moving forward.
Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s head of single-seater matters, noted that multiple teams had to modify their wing designs following the FIA’s communications after the Singapore Grand Prix. While it remains unclear which teams made changes, McLaren confirmed it had proactively adjusted its rear wings in response to the FIA’s concerns. A spokesperson for McLaren emphasized that these adjustments were made to avoid any further issues, though they denied that these changes were directly requested by the FIA.
During the US Grand Prix weekend, Vasseur commented on the situation, stating that Ferrari did not need to modify its rear wing in light of the developments surrounding McLaren. He suggested that other teams might have adjusted their designs since Singapore but reaffirmed that Ferrari had not been one of those teams affected. Vasseur underscored the importance of adhering to the regulations, which specify clear limits on wing deflection, describing the rules as “black and white” with no room for interpretation.
On a related note, Vasseur also expressed his trust in the FIA regarding the scrutiny of Red Bull’s floor device, which had come under investigation for potential regulatory breaches. He maintained that while it’s not Ferrari’s role to determine the legality of other teams’ components, it is crucial to focus on improving their own performance. Vasseur acknowledged the ongoing speculation but emphasized that if any team were to exploit loopholes in the regulations, it would constitute a clear violation, thus maintaining the need for strict adherence to the rules set forth by the FIA.