Red Bull ‘left furious’ by FIA rule change as McLaren get wish for 2025 season | F1 | Sport

Red Bull have reportedly been left furious with the FIA on the eve of the 2025 Formula One season. The Milton Keynes team are said to be upset with the decision to clamp down on flexible front wings from the Spanish Grand Prix this year.

Christian Horner had sought clarity from the FIA midway through last season after McLaren had benefitted hugely from their use of flexible front wings. Mercedes also upgraded their own technology in a bid to catch Red Bull and McLaren.

With Lando Norris closing in on Max Verstappen, Red Bull raised the issue of bendy wings with the FIA. the governing body ruled that they were legal.

Red Bull are reported to have therefore invested heavily in developing a flexi wing for 2025, believing that the FIA would not budge on their stance. However, on Friday, the FIA U-turned and announced that they will increase the scope for wing tests this season.

That will come into play for rear wings when teams are in Australia on March 16. For front wings, the test scope will be increased for the Spanish Grand Prix on June 1.

According to AutoRacer, Red Bull are furious with the decision. Just last month, the FIA claimed they planned no changes to the front wing tests.

But the FIA said on Friday: “Following further analysis carried out by the FIA single-seater department after the conclusion of the 2024 season, we are committed to ensure that bodywork flexibility is no longer a point of contention for the 2025 season.

“These adjustments are aimed at further refining our ability to monitor and enforce bodywork flexibility regulations, ensuring a level playing field for all competitors to promote fair and exciting racing.”

But it comes after Red Bull team principal Horner believed his team had been given the green light to press ahead with developing their own flexible front wings.

He said after the FIA’s decision not to punish McLaren: “I think what’s crucial for any team, as with all these things, is always clarity. Is something acceptable or is it not? If it’s deemed to be acceptable, then obviously that encourages you to pursue similar solutions yourself.

“So the regulator, obviously they have all the information available. They have all the analysis that they’ve recently put cameras on, many cars.

“They’re collecting that data. But yeah, it’s one of those things, as I say, that if it’s deemed to be acceptable, then you pursue that route.”