Explaining the surprise F1 rule change ahead of the Chinese GP (ad-free)
Added 2025-03-19 00:00:08 +0000 UTCThe FIA’s latest flexi-wing tweak is the big talking point in the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast.
Jon Noble and Edd Straw convene in China to explain why such sudden action has been taken ahead of this weekend’s race in Shanghai.
We then get into questions from The Race Members’ Club, starting off with why the FIA doesn’t leave flexi-wings alone and the terms of the newly (part) agreed Concorde Agreement.
There’s also questions about Williams’s step, Liam Lawson’s position and Helmut Marko’s contribution.
The progress of Racing Bulls, Lando Norris’s most likely title rivals and the reasons why handling characteristics can persistently even amid big car changes from year to year are also among the talking points.
Comments
I, for one, am jealous of John’s four breakfasts
MitchMcNuggets
2025-03-19 10:10:56 +0000 UTCIt's a never-ending F1 trend. If you're just copying what others are doing, you'll (almost) always be a step behind. So it might be better to pursue to disallow their innovations while innovating something else yourself.
mikko
2025-03-19 05:35:16 +0000 UTCI think that’s a good take - risky insofar as never getting the answer you want, but if convinced of the rule, and probably an off record view, then better to pursue whilst directing resource elsewhere. Still makes me ponder how much is achievable this year as the McLaren tyre advantage seems to be significant, and thru the Oz weekend were running less wing rather than more. China will be a McLaren win but Bahrain could be a tell versus testing
Hywel Lewis
2025-03-19 03:48:58 +0000 UTCI imagine Redbull don’t have the room in the cost cap for R&D, and don’t want to sacrifice 26’ just to get on the same level as Ferrari and McLaren when it comes to the wings. Probably cheaper to just lobby the FIA to “clarify” the regs to stiffer wings which will suit their car.
Legelac
2025-03-19 01:22:58 +0000 UTCBe happy Edd, going from Melbourne to China just added 3 extra hours to your day! Also, instead of moaning, why don’t Red Bull implement their own wing similar to what Ferrari & McLaren are running?
Butch McGee
2025-03-19 00:12:14 +0000 UTC
