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After Ferrari's defeat, a 'frustrated' Vasseur lashes out at FIA: "Waited 2 months for decision"
Ferrari was closer to a title in 2024, then at anytime during the past 15 years. However, in the end, the Maranello based squad's efforts were just 14 points shy off McLaren's lead at the flag in Abu Dhabi. Last season the flexibility parameters regarding the wings in F1 was a controversial topic, and the FIA's delay in ruling on the front wing's flexibility in particular, might have been the reason why the Italian team did not come out on top in 2024.
How important was the FIA's handling of the flexiwing saga?
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari's team principal, has shed light on why he had an issue with the FIA's handling of the front wing's flexion parameters: "I'm a bit frustrated with this, because it's clear performance, and we wait two months for the decision if it's legal or not," said the Frenchman, adding that the cost cap, and the allocation of the resources available to each area, keeps teams on a very tight leash in terms of what they can afford to develop.
The 2024 season saw a close fight between not two, but rather four teams, with McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and at times even Mercedes, fighting for the top steps on a regular basis. The close competition ultimately defines the approach teams will take when fighting for the top prizes according to Vasseur. "It is true that the more the competition will be tight, the more we will look after details."
How big was the flexi-wing's impact in 2024?
Monza was a prime example of how tight the field was last year, with Charles Leclerc taking a hard fought and up until the latter stages of the race unfathomable win, and that's where the front wing's flexibility's benefits in performance was crucial according to the Italian team's boss. "But when you had races like Monza, you had four or five cars within a tenth, if you have a flexi-wing and whatever, for sure, it's making a huge difference."
McLaren and Mercedes were the first teams to implement the controversial flexible front wings. And while the FIA did react promptly to the Woking based team's rear wing's behaviour in Baku, it was not the case for the frontal aerodynamic element. Had Ferrari received prompt clarification from the governing body surrounding the front wing's flexibility parameters, then might have the Italian marquee's season had a different, more successful, outcome?
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