Red Bull is reportedly 'furious' after the FIA reversed its previous stance and announced a mid-season clampdown on flexible wings for 2025.
Last year, flexi-wing controversies primarily involving McLaren led to a detailed FIA investigation. Despite scrutiny, the governing body initially confirmed that no rule changes would be made for 2025.
However, new information has emerged that the FIA will in fact be tightening its deflection tests by 5 millimetres, with the new measures set to come into force at the Spanish Grand Prix in early June.
"Based on further analysis by the FIA after the 2024 season, we are determined to ensure that the flexibility of the bodywork is no longer a point of contention in 2025," a spokesperson for the Paris-based federation confirmed.
Additionally, the FIA has stated that stricter rear wing tests will be implemented immediately this season, while the front wing regulations will only be enforced from Barcelona onwards.
It is believed that the delay for front wing changes is due to teams like Red Bull already having heavily invested in their 2025 car development under the budget cap, which could result in parts being rendered illegal from the start.
Ferrari is also expected to be heavily impacted by the change.
The Italian team had postponed its front wing developments in the second half of 2024 while awaiting the FIA's decision – a decision that initially assured no regulatory modifications for 2025.
Well-known Italian journalist Leo Turrini has reported rumoured "sensational improvements" from Ferrari's new car in simulator testing.
Meanwhile, Autoracer claims that McLaren may have played a key role in pressuring the FIA to implement the flexi-wing crackdown.
"There is a broad belief among rival teams that McLaren played a key role in pressuring the FIA to tighten testing," the Italian source reported.
"This came after a season finale in which Ferrari showed excellent competitiveness and McLaren feared Red Bull's comeback once their correlation and flexibility issues were resolved."
