After questions were raised over the legality of McLaren and Mercedes' designs, the FIA has said all F1 teams' front wings will comply with 2024 regulations.
Red Bull and Ferrari claimed that McLaren and Mercedes' front wings were not compliant due to their flexibility, with team principal Christian Horner previously saying: They seemed ““It's very, very different from the rest of the grid.”
However, the FIA said in a statement on Tuesday that it had carried out front wing inspections at all races and concluded that “all front wings are now compliant with the 2024 regulations.”
Questions about the flexibility of McLaren's front wing were further raised after cameras at Monza showed it bending, and the statement comes in response to comments made by Horner, the team's motorsport adviser Helmut Marko and Ferrari's Frederik Wasser after Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.
“The regulations are very clear. It's an FIA issue. They've passed the tests but they have to look at the wording of the regulations,” Horner said.
“The forewing regulations changed around 2021 Baku time, and our wing passed the test, but it was using aeroelasticity.”
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Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said McLaren's pace at Zandvoort was on par with other leagues.
Vasser added: “This is a discussion I don't want to have with you. I'll have it with (FIA single-seater director Nicolas) Tombazis.”
McLaren have developed into arguably the fastest car this season and are now just eight points behind Red Bull in the constructors' standings.
Mercedes have also fought back strongly to win three times, while Red Bull are under pressure after failing to win in seven races since the Spanish Grand Prix in June.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc won the Italian Grand Prix in Monza on Sunday after a daring one-stop strategy, beating McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Noris.
Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari, 1st place, celebrating with the team at Parc Ferme at the Italian GP Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Full statement from the FIA
“The FIA inspects the front wings at all events with numerous checks (surface fit, sag fit) in accordance with the relevant F1 technical regulations. All front wings currently comply with the 2024 regulations.
“Since the Belgian Grand Prix, the FIA has collected additional data during the FP1 and FP2 sessions to assess the dynamic behaviour using FIA-mandated video cameras, which capture areas of the front wing that are not visible to the official FOM cameras.
“This training will continue until at least Singapore, ensuring all teams have run the mandatory FIA cameras on different types of tracks (low, medium, high and very high downforce).
“This will provide the FIA with a large database that will allow us to paint the most objective picture of the situation and quantify the differences between the different dynamic patterns observed on the track.
“No component can be infinitely rigid. That's why there is a load-deflection test in the regulations.
“Front wings have been a challenging area for many years, as the aerodynamic load patterns between different competitors vary, making it difficult to find a load vector that covers all types of front wing structures.
“Other parts of the car, including the rear wing and floor edges, have a much more consistent aerodynamic load pattern across the grid, allowing for a more universal load-sag test.
“The FIA reserves the right to introduce new tests if irregularities are suspected. There are no plans for short-term measures, but the situation is being assessed in the medium to long term.”
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