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A major technical clampdown on front wing flexibility could reshape the Formula 1 pecking order starting this weekend at the Spanish Grand Prix, with several team bosses predicting it could be a pivotal moment in the 2025 season.
The FIA’s updated directive on flexi-wings—first issued in January—will finally come into force in Barcelona, reducing the permitted front wing movement from 15mm to 10mm. This move, aimed at tightening interpretations of the regulations, is widely seen as an attempt to close performance loopholes used by some teams.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff hinted Ferrari may stand to gain the most from the rule change, stating after the Monaco Grand Prix, “Ferrari was probably most conservative on flexi-wings... another angle of curiosity and I don’t know how it’s going to go.” Ferrari’s Frederic Vasseur echoed the sentiment, calling the directive a potential “gamechanger.”
While runaway leaders McLaren have repeatedly downplayed the impact of the change, Ferrari believe the directive could level the playing field. “Barcelona is on the calendar of everybody in the paddock with the new regulation for the front wing,” said Vasseur. “We’ve been working on it for ages now... we don’t know the impact on every single team.”
Red Bull’s Christian Horner, also monitoring the situation closely, believes the effects could vary across the grid. “It’s a significant change... maybe it will have zero impact, maybe it will affect degradation,” he said after Max Verstappen’s fourth-place finish in Monaco. “But there will be an impact.”
The FIA previously clamped down on rear wing flex earlier in the season without disrupting the order. Whether the new front wing test follows suit or causes a shake-up remains to be seen.
Ferrari, currently fourth in the Constructors’ standings and trailing McLaren by 177 points, have shown signs of resurgence, with Charles Leclerc finishing second in Monaco. Vasseur admits their early season was underwhelming but sees momentum building. “We have a positive trend the last three or four races,” he said.
With teams anticipating mixed outcomes from the directive, all eyes will be on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya as F1’s European triple header wraps up. Sky Sports F1 will provide live coverage of every session from Friday.
