Jun.1 (GMM) The FIA is not ruling out ‘dynamic tests’ to clamp down even harder on flexible wings in Formula 1.
Nikolas Tombazis, the Paris-based federation’s single-seater chief, has had a busy weekend in Barcelona as tough new flexibility checks debuted for McLaren-style bendy front wings.
It has had little impact on the pecking order, with McLaren still 1-2 in qualifying.
“What a waste of money,” seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton is quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Nothing has changed. Everyone’s wings are still bending – they’re just getting halfway to the bending point now and everyone has had to build new wings and spend money to make them.
“It would have been better for everyone to donate the money to charity,” the Ferrari driver added.
Tombazis doesn’t deny that the teams are still up to clever flexibility tricks even in Barcelona.
“The teams arrived prepared with more rigid wings and some aerodynamic modifications,” he told Sky Italia on Saturday.
Tombazis admits that dynamic tests – checks evaluated by the FIA when the cars are actually running on track – are now “a possibility”.
“First, the issue is to better understand the precision of the measurements,” he added. “For now, we use dynamic tests to calibrate the static tests.”
Also tested by the teams on the FIA’s behalf this weekend have been new steel materials underneath the car instead of the usual spark-producing titanium.
“For now it’s an experiment,” Tombazis said, “so it’s too early to judge.
“It weighs more, but it’s the same for everyone. We think the consumption is similar.”
Some think it’s a shame that the steel will not produce the same spectacular sparks, but Tombazis clarified: “The intention is to use them only on tracks where there is a risk of fires.”
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES