Tombazis admits regret over early FIA flexi-wing comments

The FIA's decision to implement tougher restrictions on flexi-wings caught a number of teams off guard. It was earlier confirmed that the FIA wouldn't be rushing the changes surrounding wing flex, but now, in an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, FIA head of single-seaters Nikolas Tombazis has admitted that in hindsight, they shouldn't have said that.

In late January the governing body made a U-turn from their previous comments, confirming that changes to the regulations would take place from the ninth race of the season, the Spanish Grand Prix, to ensure that bodywork flexibility wouldn't be an issue in 2025.

"These adjustments are aimed at further refining our ability to monitor and enforce bodywork flexibility regulations, ensuring a level playing field for all competitors to promote fair and exciting racing," the FIA confirmed at the time.

Further changes came at the season start when teams were told they would have to pass tougher wing flexibility tests following the Melbourne race. With the FIA now sending a very different message compared to its 2024 stance, Tombazis admitted he would have preferred not to have made the original statement.

Jack Doohan, Alpine, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

"No, it was an internal decision, I guess, I said this a bit too quickly back then and in benefit of hindsight so they would have rather not said that," Tombazis explained when asked about the process behind implementing the flexi-wing changes for 2025.

"After the season, we analysed all the data we gathered with the cameras and so on, and we felt that the trend was that these deflections would continue to increase a lot, and we felt that we could end up in the middle of the season with fairly large deformations and again a lot of complaints and pressures.

"So we felt that rather than wait for the middle of the season and, sort of let's try to act a bit more decisively early on. And that's why we advised you around about December time."

The technical changes will arrive in two stages this season. The first has already been implemented in Australia, tightening the regulations for the Shanghai race. Teams must now pass tests with a maximum deflection of 0.5mm under vertical load. The second stage will begin at the Spanish Grand Prix - 30 May-1 June - where additional tests will come to fruition.