The 2025 Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was anticipated to be a turning point due to the FIA’s new technical directive targeting flexible front wings. However, McLaren’s performance remained unaffected, with Oscar Piastri securing pole position and victory, followed by teammate Lando Norris in second place.
Lando Norris addressed the pre-race concerns, stating, “There was a lot of complaints about our car, and they introduced this TD [Technical Directive] and changed nothing.” He credited the team’s consistent performance to their well-rounded car and the dedication of the McLaren team.
The FIA’s clampdown was expected to impact teams like McLaren, who were believed to benefit from flexible wings. Ferrari’s team principal, Frederic Vasseur, had suggested the rule change could be a “gamechanger.” Despite this, McLaren secured a front-row lockout and a one-two finish, with Piastri leading the Drivers’ Championship by 10 points over Norris.
Lewis Hamilton criticized the updated regulations, highlighting the financial burden of building new front wings and questioning the effectiveness of the changes. He remarked, “It’s just half the bending, and everyone’s had to make new wings, and spend more money to make these. It doesn’t make any sense.”
The FIA’s decision to implement the changes from the Spanish Grand Prix aimed to avoid unnecessary expenses for teams by allowing them to adapt without discarding existing components. Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s single-seater director, explained that introducing extra tests at the start of the season could have led to additional costs.
Despite the regulatory changes, McLaren’s dominance continued, with Piastri’s victory marking his fifth of the season. The team’s performance suggests that their success is rooted in overall car design and team execution rather than exploiting flexible wing regulations.
As the season progresses, rival teams will need to focus on innovation and performance improvements to challenge McLaren’s lead, rather than relying on regulatory changes to level the playing field.
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