Ferrari 'redesign required' after "exploiting" rear wing flexing - Mattia Binotto

Binotto at pre-season testing — Photo: © LAT Images

Ferrari

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Ferrari 'redesign required' after "exploiting" rear wing flexing - Binotto

The FIA is clamping down on rear wing flexing

Sam Hall

Friday 21 May 2021 11:45

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has revealed Ferrari is among the teams that have been exploiting flexible rear wings this season ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix.

After footage showed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen's rear wing flexing under load at the Spanish Grand Prix, the FIA issued a technical directive to teams stating it would be toughening the static 'pull-back' and 'push-down' load tests on the component to prevent illegal bending.

Asked if Ferrari was currently exploiting flexibility in its rear wing, Binotto answered: "Yes, we are exploiting. I think as all the teams are exploiting, somehow, what’s possible and what we believe is right. The technical directive is clarifying furthermore.

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"We will need to slightly adapt but I don’t think it’s impacting Ferrari much – and certainly on the lap time from what we’ve seen, very, very little but there are some redesigns just needed which need to be carried over to comply fully to the technical directive.

"Again, I think that, as Ferrari, it’s not impacting us much but still, a redesign is required."

Although numerous teams have voiced concern that the changes detailed in the technical directive will only come into force after next month's French Grand Prix, Binotto trusts the FIA has done its due diligence when assessing the timeframe.

He added: "Now, on the time, I’m pretty sure that the FIA checked what was right, what was wrong, I’m pretty sure that by deciding a certain date, they analysed the case pretty well and I trust them fully.

"As Ferrari, we are happy there is now a clarification and eventually we need to adapt, or someone needs to adapt – whoever – to that new technical directive but on the time I think we should respect the FIA decision because I’m pretty sure they did it by being fully aware."