A couple of weeks back, the FIA introduced a number of changes in the F1 Sporting Regulations for the 2025 season, which included some stringent wing defelector tests. The first race of the season has yet to arrive, and Red Bull has already filed a complaint about McLaren and Ferrari’s wings.
Last year, we saw McLaren come under the spotlight for their flexi-wings that resulted in a mini-DRS while travelling at high speeds down the straights. After the Grand Prix, the team was approached by the FIA, who requested the team to resolve the issue for the next Grand Prix. Hence, this season, the FIA introduced more stringent wing deflector tests to ensure that wings don’t flex too much on track.
Red Bull ‘prepared an official and accusatory file’ on McLaren and Ferrari
Heading into the 2025 season, it is quite clear that Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari will be the ones competing for the Championship. Given that the FIA will start more stringent wing deflector tests from the start of the season, all the teams were keeping a close eye on their rivals for any potential breaches in the regulation.
FIA Reveals New Sporting Regulations for 2025 F1 Season Following Commission Meeting
After the pre-season testing at Bahrain, Red Bull ‘prepared an official and accusatory file’ of McLaren and Ferrari’s wings. As a result, the FIA will be heading to the teams’ respective bases to further investigate the wings.
According to the new Sporting Regulations, the FIA’s more stringent testing on the rear wing will take place from the start of the season. However, the FIA will perform more stringent tests on the front wing only from the Spanish Grand Prix.
Ferrari’s secret weapon for the season opener
After pre-season testing, it was speculated by most of the teams that Ferrari was heavily sandbagging their car. This basically means that the team won’t be showcasing their full potential until the actual race weekend. Although most of the teams on the grid were sandbagging, it is understood that Ferrari has a lot more pace they could unlock at Melbourne.
According to Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, Ferrari is the dark horse on the grid.
“I think that into this cycle of regulations, it’s clear that the cars have converged, and they look very, very similar,” Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner said.
“I think probably Ferrari is a standout as probably being a differentiator.”
Pierre Wache Reveals Changes in Red Bull RB21 Ahead of 2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix
Given that this is the last year of the current cycle of technical regulations, most of the teams have elected to go with a proven concept. But according to Horner, Ferrari has decided to change it up a bit and went with a different type of design. They could even bring in a completely different set of wings to complement the new features of the car.
This could either be advantageous for Ferrari or could blow up in their face. But we won’t know the true pace of all the cars until next weekend in Melbourne.
What do you think will be the pecking order of the grid at the Australian Grand Prix? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.
