Under Pressure: Red Bull and Ferrari Scramble, McLaren H….read more 

As Formula 1 teams gear up for the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix, attention has turned to the latest technical directive, TD018, which aims to clamp down on the use of flexible front wings. This measure follows concerns raised during the 2024 season that some teams had been exploiting front wing flex to gain a performance edge—something that sparked controversy and triggered a response from the FIA.

TD018 introduces stricter enforcement regarding how much the front wing can flex under aerodynamic load, as the FIA looks to ensure a more level playing field. The directive has led several teams, particularly among the frontrunners, to revise or update their front wing designs to ensure compliance. Among the top teams, both Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari have confirmed changes to their front wings specifically in response to this directive.

Interestingly, however, McLaren has stood out by not submitting any updates ahead of the race in Barcelona. The FIA’s published list of technical updates confirmed that the Woking-based team had “no updates submitted for this event.” This is particularly notable because McLaren had previously been at the center of speculation regarding flexible wing designs. Rivals had suspected that the team’s impressive aerodynamic efficiency might be partially due to a front wing that flexed more than the regulations allowed—or at least pushed the limits of what was considered legal.

Heading into the Spanish Grand Prix, some competitors had anticipated that the introduction of TD018 would hamper McLaren’s recent run of strong performances. The idea was that a more rigid front wing could compromise McLaren’s balance and downforce generation, thereby slowing them down both over a single lap and across race distances. However, the team’s decision not to implement any changes raises a few possibilities: either their car was already compliant with the stricter interpretation of the rules, or they believe that their current package is sufficiently competitive even under the new regulations.

Meanwhile, Red Bull and Ferrari’s decision to alter their front wing configurations signals that TD018 may have had a broader impact across the grid than initially assumed. These teams are clearly taking no chances in ensuring full compliance with the FIA’s directives, potentially at the cost of a minor redesign or compromise in performance.

In summary, while many teams are adjusting to the new technical guidelines, McLaren’s confidence in their existing setup—and their absence from the list of updates—has sparked intrigue. With TD018 in force, all eyes will be on the track in Barcelona to see whether McLaren’s unchanged car can maintain its recent momentum against rivals who’ve been forced to adapt.