Lewis Hamilton Criticizes FIA’s Flexi-Wing Clampdown: A Step Backwards?

As Formula 1 gears up for the Spanish Grand Prix, the FIA’s new regulations targeting flexible front wings have become a hot topic. The governing body aims to reduce the allowable flex in wings to either 10mm or 15mm, intending to curb aerodynamic advantages derived from wing flexibility .

However, Lewis Hamilton has expressed concerns about this clampdown. Reflecting on the impact of flexi-wings, he stated:

“The flexi-wings, it was a positive when it came about. Some teams were quick to adapt it, some teams were very slow to adapt it. It’s been a positive. When I was at Mercedes and we got it last year around this time it was a positive for us. Some people had it earlier, some people had it later.”

Hamilton believes that the introduction of flexi-wings improved the drivability of the current generation of F1 cars. He further commented:

“It made this generation of car much nicer to drive. So, it’s going in the wrong direction, that’s for sure. But I guess it’s more about policing it, making sure that it’s better policed, I guess, moving forward. Hopefully, it brings everyone closer.”

Critiquing the underlying technical regulations, Hamilton added:

“Ultimately the flexi wings was a band-aid for poorly designed technical regulations, I would say. It’ll be interesting to see how [the clampdown] affects different teams. Some teams have flexed more than others, did a better job than others, so I really have no idea how that affects us all.”

The FIA’s decision to enforce stricter tests stems from concerns that certain teams were exploiting aero-elasticity to gain performance advantages. The new regulations are expected to impact teams differently, depending on how much they relied on wing flexibility .

As the Spanish Grand Prix unfolds, all eyes will be on how these changes affect team performances and whether Hamilton’s apprehensions about the clampdown’s impact on the sport’s competitiveness hold true.