Red Bull 'complain to the FIA' as McLaren and Ferrari accused of bending rules
Red Bull have asked for intervention from Formula One's governing body ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix.
Red Bull have reportedly complained to Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, regarding the front wings of both McLaren and Ferrari with the champions' rivals being accused of bending the sport's strict rules.
McLaren and Ferrari have made huge strides in matching Max Verstappen’s pace this season, with the Dutchman failing to win on three occasions already in 2024, the same number he failed to win in the entirety of the previous campaign.
But Red Bull have now opposed the alleged front wing advantage that McLaren and Ferrari have gained, after already lodging an unofficial request to the FIA to take a look at Mercedes’ vehicles, according to Auto Motor und Sport.
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Chiefs at Red Bull headquarters in Milton Keynes are said to be unhappy at how their rivals’ front wings bend on straights and in fast corners, which are perceived to potentially be in breach of the current regulations.
Last year, Aston Martin were forced to downgrade their front wing because it was not attached to the nose rigidly enough, and subsequently lost a significant amount of pace after the change.
Red Bull are said to have asked Aston Martin to join them in appealing to the FIA, but they were not taken up on that approach.
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If the flexing front wings of McLaren and Ferrari, which may have helped Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz create the desired downforce at corners, are not outlawed by the FIA then Red Bull have confirmed that they ‘will have to go the same way’.
Flexible front wings are not permitted in the current rules, but under a certain aerodynamic load it is accepted that wings will flex to a certain degree, with teams tasked with finding the perfect balance of flexibility without failing the various load tests the FIA conducts.
It remains to be seen whether McLaren and Ferrari could be penalised by the FIA if found guilty of breaching their regulations, or receive a similar request to Aston Martin 10 months ago when they were told to downgrade the wing.
Mercedes also had the same suspicion as Red Bull, but instead of challenging the FIA they opted to make an adjustment to become similar to Ferrari and McLaren, albeit within the legal limitations of how flexible a front wing can be.
The results of Red Bull’s FIA complaint could further unsettle the paddock and with McLaren and Ferrari aiming to usurp Christian Horner and Verstappen once again this weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix, a close eye will likely be kept on their front wings in Barcelona.
