Rear wing flex and FIA regulatory test 2021

[El Scorchio]

So dans and dans and others etc, do you think RB will protest this weekend then?

RB to protest Front wings? I can't see it, seen as it appears theirs behaves the same.

Or do you mean MB to protest rear wings? That I can see, just like RB did with DAS even though they knew it was almost certainly futile. I don't see any downside for them if they do protest or anything to lose, even though surely it won't be upheld. But on the offchance that it is, then that's potentially a big help.

[nzjrs]

So dans and dans and others etc, do you think RB will protest this weekend then?

RB to protest Front wings? I can't see it, seen as it appears theirs behaves the same.

Or do you mean MB to protest rear wings? That I can see, just like RB did with DAS even though they knew it was almost certainly futile. I don't see any downside for them if they do protest or anything to lose, even though surely it won't be upheld. But on the offchance that it is, then that's potentially a big help.

Argh, I mean MB protest rear wings. My mistake, no idea what I was thinking there. I'll edit my post

[dans79]

So dans and dans and others etc, do you think MB will protest this weekend then?

edit: accidentally had written RB by mistake.

I'd say it depends on what rear wing red bull runs. If they run a wing that flexes as much as we saw in Spain, and they qualify well, I think Mercedes will protest. If they run a wing that flexes less, I think Mercedes won't!

[nzjrs]

So dans and dans and others etc, do you think MB will protest this weekend then?

edit: accidentally had written RB by mistake.

I'd say it depends on what rear wing red bull runs. If they run a wing that flexes as much as we saw in Spain, and they qualify well, I think Mercedes will protest. If they run a wing that flexes less, I think Mercedes won't!

I would say if they protest after Qualification that would be quite a **** move - even RB had the decency to do the DAS protest on Friday. If MB waits until after qualification or - the nuclear option - after the race, there will be all out war between the teams.

[dans79]

So dans and dans and others etc, do you think MB will protest this weekend then?

edit: accidentally had written RB by mistake.

I'd say it depends on what rear wing red bull runs. If they run a wing that flexes as much as we saw in Spain, and they qualify well, I think Mercedes will protest. If they run a wing that flexes less, I think Mercedes won't!

I would say if they protest after Qualification that would be quite a **** move - even RB had the decency to do the DAS protest on Friday. If MB waits until after qualification or - the nuclear option - after the race, there will be all out war between the teams.

I don't think it's really possible for them to protest ahead of time, they'd have to be able to prove that it was on the car when it mattered.

[El Scorchio]

So dans and dans and others etc, do you think RB will protest this weekend then?

RB to protest Front wings? I can't see it, seen as it appears theirs behaves the same.

Or do you mean MB to protest rear wings? That I can see, just like RB did with DAS even though they knew it was almost certainly futile. I don't see any downside for them if they do protest or anything to lose, even though surely it won't be upheld. But on the offchance that it is, then that's potentially a big help.

Argh, I mean MB protest rear wings. My mistake, no idea what I was thinking there. I'll edit my post

No worries! I did think you'd meant MB.

[El Scorchio]

So dans and dans and others etc, do you think MB will protest this weekend then?

edit: accidentally had written RB by mistake.

I'd say it depends on what rear wing red bull runs. If they run a wing that flexes as much as we saw in Spain, and they qualify well, I think Mercedes will protest. If they run a wing that flexes less, I think Mercedes won't!

I would say if they protest after Qualification that would be quite a **** move - even RB had the decency to do the DAS protest on Friday. If MB waits until after qualification or - the nuclear option - after the race, there will be all out war between the teams.

Rock and a hard place, I think. Highly unlikely, but what if RB didn't run it in practice but then bolted it on for qualification? They'd leave them with no choice but to protest then. MB need to see the wing(s) are on the (various) car(s) before they protest. Both teams need to be a bit sporting toward each other here. RB may opt not to use it, just in case.

[Wouter]

Mercedes seem to be scratching their heads back now, because if Lewis Hamilton is to be believed the team will no longer lodge a protest if Red Bull Racing drive the 'flexi-wings' this weekend. At least that is what Lewis Hamilton said when asked about it during the press conference.

"It doesn't really matter what I think about it, it is what it is. They're approved based on current testing methods and they're valid this weekend. So we can't do much against it."

[El Scorchio]

Mercedes seem to be scratching their heads back now, because if Lewis Hamilton is to be believed the team will no longer lodge a protest if Red Bull Racing drive the 'flexi-wings' this weekend. At least that is what Lewis Hamilton said when asked about it during the press conference.

"It doesn't really matter what I think about it, it is what it is. They're approved based on current testing methods and they're valid this weekend. So we can't do much against it."

That's how I see it really. They can surely only take rear facing footage to the powers that be and try to protest on the basis of that, which I don't see getting much traction. However, they have nothing to lose and everything to gain and you never know, so I don't see why they wouldn't do anything. As mentioned RB knew their DAS protest would almost certainly fail and went ahead anyway so why not.

[dans79]

That's how I see it really. They can surely only take rear facing footage to the powers that be and try to protest on the basis of that, which I don't see getting much traction.

Yep, pretty much this. Footage of multiple cars, analysis of it, and a copy of rule 3.8 to point at!

[RZS10]

Apparently there has been a "clarification" sent out to the teams between races and Tombazis supposedly went from team to team placing yellow dots on the rear wings already.

[dans79]

Apparently there has been a "clarification" sent out to the teams between races and Tombazis supposedly went from team to team placing yellow dots on the rear wings already.

where did you see this?

[RZS10]

https://the-race.com/formula-1/teams-ge ... p-protest/

the other stuff from twitter, that's why it's "supposedly", although i believe that info came from sky

edit: the yellow dots are visible on the Aston in Fabrega's pictures

[El Scorchio]

Apparently there has been a "clarification" sent out to the teams between races and Tombazis supposedly went from team to team placing yellow dots on the rear wings already.

Oh. Well that could be a gamechanger for any anticipated protest this weekend. Unless it's purely for data collection purposes ahead of France.

Or maybe a way also of 'encouraging' teams to use the stiffest rear wing they've got.

[dans79]

Or maybe a way also of 'encouraging' teams to use the stiffest rear wing they've got.

If dots are actually applied to the wings in known positions, it will make protesting easier.