McLaren F1 must modify its wings mid-season to comply with FIA regulations, but Andrea Stella insists the adjustments pose no major challenge.
Andrea Stella, McLaren F1 team principal, admitted that the FIA’s restrictions on wing flexing during the 2025 Formula 1 season would require his team to modify its car but insisted it was not a “headache.”
The sport’s governing body confirmed in January that it had backtracked and would introduce new load tests for front and rear wings during the season to limit the parts’ flexing capabilities.
The static deflection tests monitoring the cars’ rear wings will be expanded for the season opener in Australia from March 14 to 16, before additional tests on front wings are introduced at the ninth round in Spain in early June.
McLaren is widely regarded as having successfully taken advantage of the leniency in wing flexing regulations.
Speaking as McLaren became the first team to unveil its 2025 F1 car, Stella said: “No headache at all.”
“We don’t have many adjustments to make for the start of the season. A small tweak will be needed from the ninth race.”
“I know it has become a big talking point, but in terms of what keeps us busy and what gives us real headaches, there are actually completely different topics, much more related to finding those crucial tenths of a second needed to stay ahead of the others, which I wish were simpler.”
“I don’t mean to disrespect all the men and women at McLaren who are working so hard and so skillfully to create a faster car from what was already a very quick one in 2024, but finding performance in these F1 cars is becoming extremely difficult, even during the winter.”
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Stella: No Headache Over FIA-Enforced Wing Modifications Stella: No Headache Over FIA-Enforced Wing Modifications