McLaren and Mercedes ask for front wing clarifications

After a few teams questioned the legality of the front wings used by Red Bull and Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes GP have taken the initiative to ask the FIA for further clarification. During and after the German GP both teams in question passed the flexibility tests issued on the front wings, but further analysis has shown that they in fact do flex further down than what should be deemed legal.

"I think observation on the videos and stills show that Red Bull is the prime case, but Ferrari partially, has managed to set their cars up to run the front wings a lot lower to the ground than perhaps ourselves or McLaren have been able to achieve," Ross Brawn said to 'autosport.

Adding, "I think probably what we are asking is, before we all go off and have a massive development programme, is Charlie [Whiting, FIA race director] going to change the rules before we get there?"

McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh also added his view on the matter, "Flexi wings - do I think they are right in F1 to be flexing to that extent? No I don't. But I am not the rule maker or the rule interpreter, so I think we are asking for clarification on what is permissible here. Once we have that clarification, then we are able to push to do whatever seems to be allowed. I hope the clarification really does not allow the endplates to continue to touch the ground. There are endplates out there whose metallic skids are touching the ground, which are meant to be way off the ground."

It is currently known that at least McLaren are working on developing this flexible wing, but as of yet they have not been able to figure it out.