FIA already intervenes: Rule around use of mini-DRS changed from China

Already during test days, images of Mercedes' rear wing appearing to tilt backwards at high speed appeared on social media. McLaren was also said to be using a mini-DRS trick, where the opening of McLaren's outer slot widened at high speed to close in on the braking zone.

Pierre Waché, Red Bull Racing's technical director, hinted in Melbourne that there were still teams that managed to get around the stricter regulations. Apparently, the FIA thought so too, after checks during the free practice sessions in Australia. With very sharp cameras on the F1 cars, the motorsport federation saw that the static tests imposed with the previous restrictions already managed to circumvent them.

FIA's statement

In a statement, the FIA explained:
"As has been previously communicated, between the end of the 2024 season and the start of the 2025 season, the FIA exercised the authority it is granted under Article 3.15.1 of the Technical Regulations to introduce either new or more challenging load-deflection tests for the front wing (from Race 9, Spanish Grand Prix), the upper rear wing, and the beam rear wing. In addition, the FIA requested to the teams to use cameras in Free Practice Sessions to monitor the on-track deformations exhibited by the cars during the Australian Grand Prix.

Having analysed footage from the rear wing deformations combined to the static deflections measured inside the FIA garage in Melbourne, the FIA has concluded that sufficient grounds exist for a tougher test to be introduced from the forthcoming Chinese Grand Prix on the upper rear wing.

More specifically, Article 3.15.17, introduced in 2025, states that if 75Kg of vertical load is applied on either extremity of the rear wing mainplane, the distance between the mainplane and the flap (also known as “slot gap”) must not vary by more than 2mm. From the forthcoming Grand Prix in Shanghai, this limit will be reduced to 0.5mm. Due to the short notice for Shanghai only a tolerance of 0.25mm will be added to this new limit.

The Teams were informed of this revised test early Monday 17th of March.

The FIA wishes to further confirm that during the Melbourne event all cars tested against the requirements of Article 3.15.17 and found to comply, therefore all cars raced in Melbourne were deemed to be legal."