Flexible wings deemed legal by FIA in Hungary

The FIA has ruled once again that Red Bull and Ferrari’s front wings are legal, it emerged prior to Sunday’s Hungarian grand prix.

After qualifying, McLaren and Mercedes asked the governing body to urgently clarify the rule about flexible aerodynamics, despite the controversial designs run by Red Bull and Ferrari passing similar scrutiny only a week ago at Hockenheim.

“I would like it (clarification) this afternoon, please, to come into effect tomorrow,” Martin Whitmarsh said on Saturday.  “I’ve no idea.  We are just a competitor trying to do the best job we can.”

And Mercedes’ Ross Brawn added: “The FIA should issue clear guidelines, before we all go off and spend a lot of money trying to recreate these wings.”

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport reports that the designs have been cleared as legal before the Hungarian race, but that Charlie Whiting may be open to talks about devising new flexibility tests.

It had been rumoured late on Saturday that the FIA was inspecting the wings of the Red Bull, Ferrari and Red Bull teams.

The report said the tests carried out at the Hungaroring involved placing 50kg weights on the endplates, with no more than 10mm of downwards flexibility allowed.

And amid rumours flexible floors may be playing a role, the FIA reportedly also checked the floors of the offending cars but found no illegality.

“We pass the tests, and that’s what counts,” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner is quoted as saying.

It is not likely that the flexible designs will be copied any time soon by rival teams, because it is believed they do not understand how the tests are being passed.

Said Horner: “Today, they complain about the wings, tomorrow the floor, the day after it will be about the colour of the car.  We know these games very well.”

© RIF | GMM