The new technical directive TD018, which the FIA will enforce in Singapore and which will modify the regulations, may have more significant effects than anticipated. According to some rumors reported by Auto Motor und Sport, it appears that some Formula 1 cars might not comply with the new rules regarding the flexibility of certain components. If this were confirmed, teams would be forced to make modifications to their cars to ensure compliance with the new regulations.
The issue of aerodynamic component flexibility has been a recurring topic in Formula 1. The FIA has previously intervened to verify the legality of certain solutions, particularly concerning the rear wing. History seems to be repeating itself with the introduction of TD018, a technical directive that provides clearer guidelines on what is allowed and what is not regarding the flexing of aerodynamic components. According to the rumors, FIA inspectors have caught some teams pushing the limits of the regulations.
As we explained in a dedicated article, where you can find all you need to know about the new TD018, the problem isn’t so much the flexibility of the wings themselves but the relative movement concerning other parts of the car. Starting from the Singapore Grand Prix, all solutions involving rotations and movements of aerodynamic elements concerning other adjacent components will be banned. Following TD39 from last year, which limited vertical oscillations of the car, the FIA is once again attempting to restrict teams from using “tricks.”
While most teams have expressed confidence in the new directive, it seems there was a rush to the FIA’s measuring platform at Monza to assess the legality of their cars.
In particular, the front wing of Aston Martin was said to bend too much at the nose attachment point, and the British team had to step back. The rear wings of Mercedes and Haas, as well as the underbody of Red Bull and Williams, are reportedly under scrutiny. However, Christian Horner expressed confidence at Monza, stating, “There is nothing that concerns us. We have found some flexible noses on other cars, so we are waiting for them to be removed.”
It’s essential to note that these are rumors and not proven facts. From our perspective, modifying the front wing could potentially have more significant consequences than alterations to the underbody. The front wing is the first element to interact with the airflow, directing it to specific areas of the car. If teams have designed their aerodynamics with a flexible wing in mind and suddenly have a stiffer wing with certain restricted movements, it could result in uncalibrated airflow and a car operating under suboptimal conditions.
Therefore, we will see in Singapore if this TD018, the new FIA technical directive, has any impact on lap times and the performance of various teams.
Source: f1ingenerale
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