Special Cameras to Monitor Wings at Belgium GP

In Belgium, the FIA rolls out special cameras to scrutinize flexible wings, aiming to quash ongoing disputes.

The latest chapter unfolds in the saga of flexible wings.

To recap, during recent Grand Prix events, several teams have introduced innovations to their F1 cars, testing the boundaries of regulations on flexible front wings. The aim, of course, is to enhance performance (for the overall balance of the car).

This has sparked doubts about the legality of such modifications. Some teams may be exploiting temperature or aerodynamic load levels to induce additional flexion in the front wing, which would contravene the spirit (or letter) of the regulations. Any excessive deformation would, in any case, be illegal.

Until now, the FIA deemed the current static tests sufficient to ensure the compliance of front wings. However, the Federation has announced it will implement significantly stricter controls next week at the Belgian Grand Prix, as outlined in the new technical directive, TD034G, which has been communicated to the teams.

The objective is to verify the legality of existing cars, but also to prepare for next year and determine if additional legality checks will be necessary.

Nikolas Tombazis, director of single-seaters for the FIA, has informed that the teams under FIA surveillance (not all, apparently) will need to install additional cameras on their cars.

These cameras will monitor the translation and rotation of specific target points set by the FIA to test the stiffness of the front wings.

These points, 20 mm in diameter and uniformly colored, will be located on the edges of the flaps to assess the flexibility of the front wings. The cameras must operate for over 50% of the timed laps, except in cases of force majeure.

The painted points will be colored in contrast to the bodywork of each car to monitor the flexing of the front wing at various speeds. Teams may also be asked to provide additional information to the FIA, such as the settings of the front wing flaps.

“The FIA has decided, starting from Belgium and for an indefinite period, to measure the overall deformation of the front wing on track. Unfortunately, the front-facing cameras from the FOM are not capable of capturing the entirety of the front wing, as a large outer part is not covered by the camera angle,” clarified an FIA spokesperson.

“The objective, therefore, is to measure all front wings using a camera provided by the FIA, which will be installed on the nose of the car (replacing the current camera housings) and will offer a side view. The data collected will be used to enhance the overall understanding of body flexibility when setting future regulations.”

“It is also reiterated that all front wings checked since the start of the season have successfully passed the existing deformation tests and are deemed legal. This new technical directive is the result of a longstanding desire to better understand the behavior of front wings under aerodynamic load.”

These cameras will only be installed for the free practice sessions on Friday at Spa. They will then be removed from Saturday’s EL3 onwards, possibly returning after the summer break…

The teams required to undergo this test have not yet been disclosed, but it is suspected that Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren, particularly targeted by Red Bull on this issue, will be involved.