F1 News: Mercedes Front Wing Still Under Investigation By FIA - "Need To Understand"

The FIA is still interested in the front wing of the Mercedes W15.

The Mercedes team's innovative front wing design, unveiled during the filming day at Silverstone and now seen in more detail during Bahrain's pre-season testing, is currently under scrutiny by the FIA despite being deemed legal. 

Key Takeaways:

• Mercedes' front wing, developed with a bold design, is under investigation by the FIA for potentially breaching the spirit of the regulations.
• Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, asserts the wing's legality, designed under FIA guidance.
• The FIA acknowledges the wing's compliance with the rules but questions its alignment with the regulations' intent, aiming to minimize turbulence.

Mercedes Press Image

As the Formula 1 community gathered for the first day of testing, many eyes were focused on Mercedes' highly anticipated front wing. The Brackley-based team has explored a potential loophole in the regulations with an aggressively modified front wing which explores the concept of a Y250 vortex, focussing air through to the floor of the car.

Toto Wolff, the team's principal, confidently stated:

"The wing is legal because it was designed under the supervision of the FIA.” 

Innovation is a must in F1, so it's no surprise that the team is looking to explore the regulations as much as possible to gain a competitive advantage. And while the FIA have - so far - deemed the wing to be within the regulations, they've also admitted that it goes against the "spirit of the regulations", thanks to the potential turbulent air it produces. 

Pat Symonds, the Chief Technical Officer of Formula 1, affirmed the wing's compliance with the rules but voiced concerns over its potential to contradict the objectives of recent regulatory changes. 

“Do we want to have a solution like this in the car? I think we first need to understand how big the effect is," quoted Formu1a.Uno.

As the investigation continues, the FIA and Mercedes find themselves at a crossroads, balancing innovation with the overarching goal of improving the sport. The outcome of this scrutiny could have far-reaching implications for the development strategies of all teams, potentially shaping the short-term future of Formula 1 engineering.