Spanish Grand Prix 2025: Oscar Piastri tops second practice as McLaren set pace in Barcelona

The new front-wing flexibility test introduced by governing body the FIA is the talking point of the weekend. It is aimed at reducing the amount teams can use flexing wings to control aerodynamic performance.

Red Bull – the prime force behind persuading the FIA to introduce the test – and Ferrari hope the tougher restrictions will boost their competitiveness. McLaren believe it will have next to no effect on them.

Teams have long used front-wing flexibility to boost speed on the straights while retaining downforce in the corners. The idea is the wing ‘backs off’ on the straight to reduce drag before moving back into its maximum downforce-producing position for the corners.

But under this current generation of cars the phenomenon has proved useful in tuning the cars between high- and low-speed cornering performance.

The generations of cars introduced with new rules in 2022, which focus on underbody downforce produced by so-called Venturi tunnels, have proved prone to low-speed understeer – a lack of front grip – and high-speed oversteer – too much front grip.

By making the front wings become less effective at higher speeds, teams can reduce this nervousness in quick corners without making the cars too hard to drive at low speed.

McLaren and Mercedes are widely perceived to have been the pioneers of this particular approach, but it remains to be seen whether the tougher tests will have any effect.