FIA enforces stricter flexi-wing regulations for fairness

The FIA has decided to tighten regulations on flexi-wings in Formula 1, surprising many teams. Initially, they stated they would not rush these changes. However, Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA's head of single-seaters, later admitted it was a mistake to say that. In late January, the FIA changed its mind and announced that new rules would take effect from the ninth race of the season, the Spanish Grand Prix. These changes aim to ensure that teams' bodywork does not flex too much, helping to maintain fair competition. Tombazis said that he spoke too quickly about the situation. He explained that after reviewing data from the previous season, the FIA saw a trend of increasing flexibility in wing designs. They decided it was better to address this issue early rather than wait for problems to arise during the season. The new regulations will be implemented in two phases. The first phase began with the Australian race, where stricter tests were introduced. The second phase will take place at the Spanish Grand Prix, where even more detailed tests will be added. Teams must now meet stricter standards for wing deflection to ensure a level playing field.