Lando Norris insists F1 flexi-wings clampdown at Chinese GP not directed at pacesetting McLaren

McLaren's Lando Norris: "It seems it's directed at other teams, which probably means we need to push it a little bit more!"watch the first Sprint weekend of the season at the Chinese GP with coverage starting on Friday morning live on Sky Sports F1

Thursday 20 March 2025 11:04, UK

Lando Norris says McLaren do not need to make any changes to their pace-setting car to comply with the new FIA clampdown on flexi-wings from this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix.

F1's governing body has imposed an immediate reduction in the tolerance allowance teams' rear wings are allowed to flex out on track from the second round of the season in Shanghai after concluding from analysis at last weekend's Australian GP that there were "sufficient grounds" for a beefed-up test to be introduced.

McLaren agreed to make changes to its rear-wing design last year after September's Azerbaijan GP after scrutiny from rivals and discussions with the governing body but, in wake of the latest clampdown, Norris says they are not the team under the FIA spotlight this time.

What are the flexi-wing changes from the Chinese GP?
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"We don't to change anything, ours is fine," said Norris in Thursday's drivers' press conference in Shanghai.

"In fact, ours was probably too good and we're probably not pushing the limits enough honestly. So, no, already if this technical directive was applied for last weekend we'd also be fine.

What are flexi-wings and why is it a big topic?

F1’s technical regulations state that bodywork on the car should not move - the driver-activated DRS rear-wing overtaking flap aside. But, given the aerodynamic forces and loads at play when cars run at speed on track, there are tolerance allowances built in for how much front and rear wings can move - or flex.

In order to police legality in this crucial performance area of the car, the FIA carries out load tests on wings in their garage over race weekends to check cars comply with the rules, while they can also monitor performance out on track in other ways such as via rear-wing cameras.

The highly-competitive nature of F1 competition between the teams, though, means they push the boundaries of the regulations and, where possible, exploit grey areas to try and gain performance advantage over each other.

Given the front and rear-wing load tests are carried out by the FIA when cars are static, there have long been on-off suggestions over the years about different teams finding ways of getting their wings to pass the static tests but then flexing more than is permitted once out on track.

If this practice becomes obvious or more prevalent, the FIA often responds by making its tests more stringent, which is what again appears to have happened in this latest instance before China.

Why might teams want their wings to flex? Well, while they want their cars to produce as much downforce in the corners, it is not as useful down the straights as it creates drag. So any ability for the upper rear wing element, for instance, to deform backwards on the straight slightly and then return to its standard positioning for corners would be beneficial for overall lap time.

"So it's not directed at us. It seems it's directed at other teams, which probably means we need to push it a little bit more!"

'People need to calm down!' - Norris plays down early title lead

The McLaren driver has arrived into a race weekend as F1's world championship leader for the first time after his impressive victory in last Sunday's rain-hit Melbourne race.

Reigning four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who finished second to Norris in the season-opener, had led the standings for a record 63 races in succession going into the new campaign.

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Lando Norris says that despite his victory at the Australian Grand Prix, he 'probably won't even think of the Championship until at least halfway through the year' and that 'people need to calm down'

Norris' weekend, which also saw him claim pole position and the race's fastest lap, confirmed his and McLaren's pre-season status as title favourites. But, ahead of round two, the Briton has played down the significance of his points lead so early in the 24-race campaign.

"Makes no difference for me at the minute," he insisted.

"I'm not thinking about it. I don't really care about it. It shouldn't change anything I do, it shouldn't change what the team do. I had one good weekend. People need to calm down a little bit!

"No, I stay focused and I try and do the same here this weekend. But yeah, I probably won't even think of the championship until at least halfway through the year "

Although McLaren's rivals have talked up the pace of the MCL39, with Mercedes' George Russell even going as far to suggest its performance advantage is greater than the 2023 Red Bull which won all-but one race, Norris has stayed notably cautious.

"We're hopeful [heading into China]," he said.

"It's a different weekend, so I wouldn't say we're confident that things are going to be exactly like they were. I expect a bit more competition from Ferrari this weekend.

"And we saw how quick Red Bull have been, so clearly they're not out of it. They're just as fast. I think when things are perfect, like they were in qualifying, we have an advantage, but they're certainly not far behind."

Sky Sports F1's live Chinese GP schedule

Friday March 21

1am: F1 Academy Practice
3am: Chinese GP Practice One (session starts at 3.30am)*
5.30am: Team Principals' Press Conference
6am: F1 Academy Qualifying*
6.45am: Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 7.30am)*

Saturday March 22

2.25am: Chinese GP Sprint build-up*
3am: Chinese GP Sprint*
5.45am: F1 Academy Race 1*
6.35am: Chinese GP Qualifying build-up*
7am: CHINESE GP QUALIFYING*
9am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*

Sunday March 23

2.40am: F1 Academy Race 2
5.30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*
9am: Chinese GP reaction: Chequered flag*
10am: Ted's Notebook*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 is in Shanghai this week for the first Sprint weekend of the season at the Chinese GP, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - No contract, cancel anytime

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