Mercedes has provided a straightforward explanation for the unusual front wing behavior that caught the attention of rival Formula 1 teams during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend. Video footage of race winner Kimi Antonelli’s car showed the wing transitioning through what appeared to be multiple stages rather than the regulation-mandated two fixed positions, sparking concerns about potential rule violations.
The wing’s peculiar operation showed it running completely flat on straights before entering a halfway position under braking, then finally moving to full corner mode on the final approach to turns like Shanghai’s hairpin. This behavior appeared to violate Article 3.10.10 of F1’s technical regulations, which requires wing transitions to occur within 0.4 seconds between two fixed states only.
However, Mercedes has confirmed the issue stemmed from a technical miscalculation rather than any deliberate exploitation of the rules. The team’s front wing uses hydraulic pressure to push the wing element into corner mode, but engineers incorrectly calculated the pressure needed to operate the system at maximum speeds in Shanghai’s conditions.
When the corner mode was activated at high speeds, insufficient hydraulic pressure prevented the wing from reaching its final fixed position due to excessive aerodynamic forces. Only when the car slowed down could the wing fully transition to corner mode. Mercedes first noticed the problem during qualifying, prompting George Russell’s front wing change mid-session, though race-day fixes proved inadequate as Antonelli experienced similar issues.
Following queries from rival teams, the FIA investigated the situation and accepted Mercedes’ technical explanation. The Brackley-based team has since upgraded its hydraulic systems to prevent recurrence of the problem, with hopes the improvements will prove effective ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.