Ferrari relieved to avoid 'F1 mess' after FIA crackdown

Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur has expressed relief over avoiding an F1 "mess" by having clarity over when the tougher FIA flexi-wing tests come into force.

Throughout the 2024 season, flexi-wings became a hot topic of debate, with the FIA analysing the wings of all teams after the McLaren and Mercedes cars drew interest from rival squads.

In particular, McLaren's low-downforce design, used to win by Oscar Piastri in Azerbaijan, prompted the team to enter talks with the FIA to modify the part, with a fresh clampdown set to be introduced from June's Spanish Grand Prix.

From the Barcelona weekend, the tougher tests will attempt to ensure that flexi-wings do not become a hot topic, with teams able to push back the planned introduction, which was originally set for the Monaco GP. 

Reflecting on the situation, Vasseur detailed how having the knowledge of what will be required from Barcelona has enabled teams to avoid a "mess".

"It is not an issue and I think it is good to have clarity," Vasseur told media including RacingNews365. 

"The most important thing for me is to know that we have to change something on the front wing by Barcelona, and you can discuss the timing because it is the week after Monaco, and you need to come to Monaco with a full package for the front-wing, but at the end of the day, it is good for us.

"It is good for the development and the plan to know when we have to bring something, and the worst case scenario would have been to start the season like we are today, and in two races, we have to change something.

"It would be much more difficult to plan, and in this case, it would have been a mess. But honestly, we all know the situation.

"We were planning to bring an upgrade to the front wing during the season, but now we know that we have to do it by Barcelona."