Formula 1 Spanish GP
How F1 teams have modified front wings for Spanish GP flexi-wing tests
F1 teams show off front wing solutions to satisfy the Spanish GP technical directive on flexing wings
Jake Boxall-Legge
Edited: May 30, 2025, 2:13 PM
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2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
2025 Spanish Grand Prix car wings - Friday
83
Formula 1's teams have revealed their front wing solutions to satisfy the Spanish Grand Prix technical directive on flexing wings, following the application of more stringent load tests for the Barcelona round.
With a 1000N load applied to either side of the front wing, the flex tests only permit a maximum of 10mm of deflection, down from the previous benchmark of 15mm. This has prompted teams to strengthen their wings, although many of those changes will largely remain structural.
Read Also:
However, a handful of teams have registered more visual changes beyond that to ensure the wings remain stiff enough to pass the revamped load tests, while also attempting to recoup performance.
Ferrari SF-25 technical detail
Photo by: Antonia Vandersee/Getty Images
Ferrari, for example, has modified the distribution of load across its wing elements with minor revisions to the geometry to satisfy the rules, pairing that with revised endplates. Red Bull has followed suit, stating that all four elements have been changed; the team stated in its pre-event technical notes that "the front wing geometry has been revised to gain stiffness at minimal weight cost and then iterated to pursue the load characteristics sought."
McLaren and Mercedes had already introduced their own new front wing to suit the new rules at Imola; McLaren used the wing in practice, but is yet to race its new design.
Mercedes W16 technical detail
Photo by: Antonia Vandersee/Getty Images
Aston Martin has bolstered the structure of its front wing design with no element changes, but has revised the tips and outboard edges at the endplate to boost its wing performance.
Alpine has not registered a change either, suggesting its wing was either a purely structural change or that its Imola development had satisfied the criteria. Haas has also alluded to its wing changes being only structural; team principal Ayao Komatsu has already stated that the team had not been exploiting wing flex as much as its rivals.
Racing Bulls VCARB 02 technical detail
Photo by: Antonia Vandersee/Getty Images
Racing Bulls, however, has opted for an entirely new nose and wing combination, with a drooping nose now developed to open up the underbody to a cleaner source of flow. The central section has also been lowered to further this effect, with revised elements to satisfy the flex tests and reshaped to generate more inboard-focused load.
Williams states that its wing has also received a concurrent update, explaining that "we have taken the opportunity to update the geometry of the rearward flap and front wing endplate. The outboard section of the rearward flap has a more backed-off profile, and the vertical section of the endplate has a revised camber geometry" to improve the airflow patterns around the front brake ducts and the front of the floor.
Sauber has also changed its front wing endplate junctions to improve the local front wing performance in this area.
Further updates for the Spanish GP
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Ferrari has modified its high-downforce rear wing, itself largely carried over from 2024. Mercedes also has a revised higher-downforce rear wing with more camber to bolster its overall downforce.
Mercedes has also paired this with a new floor edge wing assembly and inner floor fence to further improve its underbody performance. Alpine and Sauber have also reported wide-reaching floor updates.
Williams has also introduced a series of rare updates, given its focus towards 2026; the team has made changes to its rear brake cooling ducts as a circuit-specific change for Barcelona, while Sauber has continued its update momentum with changes to its sidepods to fit more cohesively with the aforementioned floor updates.
Read Also:
Formula 1McLaren trialled Spanish GP stiffer F1 front wing in Imola, shrugs off flexi-wing impact
Formula 1Max Verstappen downplays flexi-wings clampdown: "It's all manageable”
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