All 10 Formula 1 teams successfully passed the rear wing flexibility tests at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The teams cleared the deflection checks at Albert Park, confirming their rear wings were legal for the event.
However, motorsport’s governing body have since decided that more action was needed.
The FIA has confirmed a new technical directive ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, with additional tweaks planned for the following race in Japan. Starting at Suzuka, the current 2mm tolerance for rear wing movement will drop sharply to just 0.5mm.
For the upcoming Shanghai round, teams will face this tighter limit, though a temporary 0.25mm leeway has been added due to the last-minute announcement.
Analysis from practice footage and in-garage inspections in Melbourne revealed that off-season changes failed to fully address the “mini-DRS” effect that lingered from 2024.
The FIA said the evidence showed rear wings were still flexing more than desired under load, prompting the clampdown.
In an official statement, the FIA explained their stance: “Having analyzed footage from the rear wing deformations combined with 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.”
They added that the previous 2mm slot gap limit, set under Article 3.15.17 of the 2025 Technical Regulations, would now shrink to 0.5mm in Shanghai, with the small tolerance concession for that race only.
The teams were notified of the updated test on Monday (today), and the FIA emphasized that all cars in Melbourne complied with the existing rules, making them fully legal for that event.
As the paddock heads to China and Japan, the teams now face a fresh challenge to adapt their designs to these stricter standards.
