Entrance wings are an enormous speaking level heading into the Components 1 Spanish Grand Prix, with the game’s governing physique instituting a brand new Technical Directive aimed toward decreasing the flexibleness in these elements. This impending rule change has been the discuss of the paddock in latest weeks, with crew principals speculating over how a lot the brand new testing and necessities may shake up the pecking order.
Thursday was an opportunity for the drivers themselves to weigh in.
Media day forward of the Spanish Grand Prix allowed a number of drivers to supply their ideas on the brand new rules, with some dismissing them whereas others pointed to an enormous swing doubtlessly coming to the grid, even within the midfield.
“Yeah, there’s been clearly loads of discuss concerning this. I don’t assume it’s going to have an effect on groups and folks as a lot as folks assume or as a lot as is being made about this modification of regulation,” mentioned Williams driver Carlos Sainz Jr. within the FIA Press Convention. “It’s nonetheless a entrance wing and nonetheless can be, simply clearly run a bit stiffer and it’ll not flex as a lot because it did. I wouldn’t count on greater than one-tenth swing up or down by means of the sphere for every crew relying on how a lot you had been flexing or not.”
Nevertheless, pressed by Tom Clarkson on how a “one-tenth swing” may imply “4 locations on the grid,” Sainz concurred that was a chance, significantly in the course of the pack.
“That’s true, really. Particularly in our little midfield space.”
His Williams teammate Alexander Albon famous that whereas Barcelona might not be a monitor fitted to the FW47, the brand new rule ought to assist the crew general.
“The regulation change fits us however the monitor doesn’t,” mentioned Albon when chatting with the media Thursday. “You’ll possible see us fall a bit backwards on the whole this weekend however not due to the flexi-wings. On the similar time, I’m fairly optimistic. We haven’t exploited the principles the identical as the opposite groups, so it ought to profit us in the long term.”
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso was quite diplomatic in the course of the FIA Press Convention, merely referring to the brand new regulation with out providing any perception on how he thinks it may shake up the grid. In the identical session, Mercedes driver George Russell outlined that he’s not anticipating any massive modifications to the pecking order.
“I feel Barcelona will inform us just a little bit extra concerning the new bundle,” mentioned Alonso within the FIA Press Convention. “Imola was a step ahead for positive, but additionally, I feel we ran the Medium tires and that helped us in qualifying. After which Monaco is such a particular place and Saturday is clearly a key a part of the weekend, and we put some good laps on Saturday as nicely. So, Barcelona, with a extra regular weekend, we are going to uncover the place we’re by way of efficiency. However, yeah, I feel everybody will carry additionally some upgrades right here, particularly with the brand new regulation with the entrance wing, and let’s see how a lot it impacts everybody on the grid.
“It’s clearly been two poor races,” described Russell. “We’ve been inside the highest 5 each single session up till Imola. So we’re hoping to get again into our typical kind and have a clear weekend. As Fernando mentioned, with the modifications to the entrance wings which have been made, there’s a little bit of relearning all the groups should take, however I don’t count on it to shake the order up an excessive amount of.”
One of many crew bosses who does imagine the brand new directive will have an effect — and a huge impact at that — is Ferrari Crew Principal Frederic Vasseur. Talking on the Monaco Grand Prix final week Vasseur mentioned the brand new regulation might be a “game-changer” for everybody on the grid. “At the very least we’re engaged on it for ages now and this is usually a gamechanger for everyone, as a result of we don’t know the influence on each single crew of the brand new regulation,” mentioned Vasseur.
His drivers had been of a combined thoughts on Thursday.
“As a driver it would change the steadiness a bit. Earlier than, each crew was pushing in that route as a result of it had advantages for the driving force and the way it felt at excessive velocity,” mentioned Charles Leclerc.
“Nevertheless, I don’t understand how a lot it would change the pecking order. We all know how a lot it would have an effect on us, not loads. We don’t understand how a lot it would have an effect on the others.
“Whether or not it would change who’s the quickest crew, I don’t assume so. Will it change just a little bit, sure I feel so. What we lose with the flexi-wing, you’ll be able to reproduce an identical factor with different issues.”
Lewis Hamilton referred to as the flexi-wing a “band-aid for high quality design,” earlier than noting that he was undecided how the brand new rules would influence the grid.
“The flexi-wing was a band-aid for high quality design I’d say – getting the set-up and creating units and mechanisms on the automotive mechanically, all of the engineers are capable of do it,” started Hamilton.
“It’s nonetheless not that straightforward to get the load that you simply want on the entrance finish at a low velocity, or simply rely solely on mechanical grip. To this point everybody has been managing, some folks higher than others.
“This weekend goes to be attention-grabbing as a result of we’ve acquired much less flex on the entrance wing. You’ve gotten loads of entrance finish at high-speed corners and fewer at low velocity,” added the brand new Ferrari driver. “It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how that impacts totally different groups. Some groups most likely did a greater job than others, so I don’t know the way it will have an effect on us.”
The crew that many imagine might be damage probably the most by the brand new directive is McLaren, who’re out to a commanding lead within the Constructors’ Championship race whereas Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris sit one-two atop the Drivers’ standings.
Neither driver sounded anxious concerning the new rules on Thursday.
“I feel the largest drawback goes to be how overhyped it’s, most likely,” mentioned Piastri, who’s three factors forward of Norris within the Drivers’ Championship standings.
“We all know what’s totally different. I feel everybody should change, a minimum of to an extent. I’ve not run the entrance wing however Lando has already run the entrance wing earlier than, this yr. We’re assured that’s not our magic bullet… we don’t have a magic bullet, however that’s not our foremost power.”
As for Norris, who received the Monaco Grand Prix final week, he was much more direct when requested by Clarkson on the FIA Press Convention if he was involved concerning the new rules.
“Nope,” mentioned Norris. “Under no circumstances.”
