The FIA will subject Formula 1 cars to tougher rear wing flexibility tests from this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.
The sport’s governing body previously announced it would impose a new test from the Spanish Grand Prix, round nine of the championship, which will be held in June. However after analysing data gathered at last weekend’s round in Melbourne, it has decided to impose another new test with immediate effect.
The test it will apply in Shanghai will significantly reduce how much teams’ wings may flex under load. The current test involves placing a 75kg vertical load on either edge of the rear wing’s main plane. When under that load, wings must move by no more than 2mm.
Under the new test which will be applied from this weekend, that limit will be cut to 0.5mm. The FIA informed teams of the change earlier today. For this weekend’s race only, a tolerance of 0.25mm will be permitted.
The FIA noted that all cars were found in compliance with the current regulations when they were tested at the Australian Grand Prix.
FIA statement on rear wing tests
As has been previously communicated, between the end of the 2024 season and the start of the 2025 season, the FIA exercised the authority it is granted under Article 3.15.1 of the Technical Regulations to introduce either new or more challenging load-deflection tests for the front wing (from race nine, Spanish Grand Prix), the upper rear wing, and the beam rear wing. In addition, the FIA requested to the teams to use cameras in free practice sessions to monitor the on-track deformations exhibited by the cars during the Australian Grand Prix.
Having analysed footage from the rear wing deformations combined to [with] the static deflections measured inside the FIA garage in Melbourne, the FIA has concluded that sufficient grounds exist for a tougher test to be introduced from the forthcoming Chinese Grand Prix on the upper rear wing.
More specifically, Article 3.15.17, introduced in 2025, states that if 75kg of vertical load is applied on either extremity of the rear wing main plane, the distance between the main plane and the flap (also known as “slot gap”) must not vary by more than 2mm. From the forthcoming Grand Prix in Shanghai, this limit will be reduced to 0.5mm. Due to the short notice for Shanghai only a tolerance of 0.25mm will be added to this new limit.
The teams were informed of this revised test early [on] Monday 17th of March.
The FIA wishes to further confirm that during the Melbourne event all cars tested against the requirements of Article 3.15.17 and found to comply, therefore all cars raced in Melbourne were deemed to be legal.
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