McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl has criticised the FIA’s decision to delay the introduction of flexi-wings tests until the French Grand Prix, calling it “not acceptable”.
The FIA has decided to clampdown on ‘bendy’ rear wings in Formula 1 by announcing new visual checks and load tests will come into force next month.
It comes in response to suspicion teams were gaining an aerodynamic advantage, but the tests won’t be enforced until Paul Ricard, allowing teams to run their current designs in Monaco and Baku.
The delay has left McLaren outraged, who feel it is only giving teams an unfair advantage to run their flexi-wings for extra races.
“We welcome the reaction from the FIA with the technical directive, which we are happy with for the basic content,” Seidl said, as quoted by Motrosport.com.
“Where we strongly disagree with is timing of the implementation because, from our point of view, there is no reason for many teams having still the advantage of doing things which, in our point of view, are clearly against the regulations.
“They had the advantage already for several races which is something we’re obviously not happy with.
“But now, allowing them to have further advantage for some more races, is clearly something we strongly disagree with, and where we are in conversation with FIA.”
Seidl added: “We simply hope that FIA shows a very strong hand because from our my point of view it’s simply not acceptable, because it puts the teams that comply with the regulations at a big disadvantage.”
Red Bull has been at the centre of the controversy following the Spanish Grand Prix when footage appeared to show its wing flexing on Barcelona’s main straight.
But reports suggest at least three other teams could also be running a bendy wing, which Seidl said was clear from watching video footage.
“I’ve no interest to put names on the table at the moment,” he said. “It’s down to the FIA, to make sure that we have fair competition between teams and enforce the regulations.
“But some of your colleagues mentioned already some names…bigger analysis as well. Just look at the rear wings, the main flaps and what the endplates are doing. There are some good videos on YouTube already, full of analysis.”
Asked if McLaren would consider lodging a protest against its rivals, Seidl said: “In principle, I’m not a big fan of protesting other teams and cars and so on.
“So, like I said, we are in dialogue with FIA, to understand what they will put in place in order to make sure that teams that designed devices or parts that allow things that you have seen in Barcelona, simply can’t use these devices or parts anymore from now onwards. And then we take it from there.”
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