FIA CLEARS MERCEDES OF FRONT WING ISSUE AFTER CHINESE GP
Mercedes will not receive a penalty from the FIA after an investigation into its front wing system during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend.
The issue was first raised after concerns about how the front wing was closing under the braking zone. However, Mercedes explained to the FIA that the problem was not intentional, but the result of a miscalculation in the system.
According to the team, the mistake was related to the amount of hydraulic pressure needed to move the wing. At very high speeds, the force of the air pushing against the wing was stronger than expected. Because of this, when the car switched to corner mode, there was not enough pressure to fully close the wing into its correct position.
The wing would only close completely when the car slowed down, as the forces acting on it became weaker. This created an unusual behavior where the system did not work properly under certain conditions, especially at maximum speed.
Mercedes first noticed the issue during qualifying in China. This also explains why a front wing change was made on George Russell’s car during that session. The team tried to fix the problem before the race, but the solution was not fully effective.
During the race, Andrea Kimi Antonelli experienced the same issue, showing that the problem had not been completely solved despite the late adjustments.
After reviewing all the information, the FIA decided not to give Mercedes a penalty. The governing body accepted the team’s explanation that it was a technical error rather than an attempt to break the rules.
However, the FIA has made it clear that the situation will be monitored closely. If the same issue happens again in future races, Mercedes could face penalties.
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