F1’s hottest topic: Will flexi-wings protests now follow?

  Follow Us:        By: Charles Bradley, Global Editor in Chief [Motorsport.com]( The flexi-wings row in Formula 1 is nothing new – ever since aerodynamicists realized that the more you reduce a wing’s area, the faster your car will go in a straight line. Teams were smart enough to learn how to build flex into the aero parts, so at a certain airspeed they bend to reduce drag and therefore increase the car’s velocity. Also, to pop back up again when braking or cornering, to give maximum downforce when required. Of course, the FIA got wise to this too and have put in place a series of ‘pull-back tests’ to stop teams from doing it, essentially on safety grounds. But in every poacher/gamekeeper scenario, the poacher will find new tricks to evade the gamekeeper’s policing – it’s a part of the fabric of F1 – so the trick is for the wing to accept the load of the test without budging but to rotate when being ‘pushed’ by the airflow rather than ‘pulled’ by the static test rig. Visual evidence is there for all to see from onboard camera footage: In particular, the Red Bull’s rear wing and the Mercedes’ front wing each display flexing characteristics. The FIA will now impose more stringent tests after the French GP – an end to the matter? Or just the beginning of the next phase of the cycle? Editor's Choice [How real is the protest threat over F1’s flexi-wing row?]( While the nature of Monaco’s tight corners and short straights means flexi-wings will not be a defining factor on track this weekend, they remain Formula 1’s hot talking point  [Watch Now](  [What are flexi-wings and why do F1 teams want them?](  [Read Now]( [Alfa Romeo blasts FIA’s flexi-wing clampdown ‘a joke’](  [Read More]( [Leclerc: Ferrari’s Monaco F1 practice form too good to believe](  [Read More]( [Szafnauer: Aston Martin must be realistic, P3 ‘a step too far’](  [Read More](   MOTORSPORT JOBS [Job of the Week: Pirelli Motorsport - Logistics Co-Ordinator](  [Learn More](        Follow Us:    Received this email from a friend? Sign up to receive the INSIDER Newsletter from Motorsport.com which includes the latest news and inside views, direct from the experts. [Subscribe](                                 Copyright © 2021 Motorsport.com, All rights reserved. This email was sent to {EMAIL} by Motorsport.com. Our Mailing Address is:Motorsport.com5972 N.E. 4th Ave. Miami, FL 33137, United States Want to change how you recieve these emails? [Manage Preferences]( [Unsubscribe](   Part of [Motorsport Network](