Spanish GP 2025: Norris Fastest in Barcelona Practice
- Fernando Alonso's session ended prematurely due to apparent engine trouble, as indicated by radio communications with his engineer.
- The FIA's new front-wing flexibility test is a major talking point.
- Red Bull and Ferrari hope the stricter regulations will improve their competitiveness.
Fernando Alonso’s Spanish Grand Prix practice was cut short due to engine issues, echoing his Monaco retirement. Meanwhile, the FIA’s new front-wing adaptability test steals the spotlight, designed to curb teams’ aerodynamic advantages. Red Bull and Ferrari are eyeing potential gains from the stricter regulations, while McLaren anticipates minimal impact.this test,which aims to refine car performance between high and low-speed cornering,could dramatically alter the competitive landscape,especially as circuits like Barcelona favor specific car characteristics. News Directory 3 keeps you updated on the twists and turns of Formula 1. Discover what’s next for the teams and how the regulations might reshape the season.
Alonso’s Engine Woes, FIA’s Wing Test Shake Up Formula 1
Updated May 30, 2025
Fernando Alonso’s session ended prematurely due to apparent engine trouble, as indicated by radio communications with his engineer. This comes after Alonso’s retirement in monaco the previous Sunday due to engine failure.
The FIA’s new front-wing flexibility test is a major talking point. The test aims to limit how much teams can manipulate flexing wings to gain an aerodynamic advantage. Teams have long exploited front wing flexibility to increase speed on straightaways while maintaining downforce in corners. The idea is that the wing reduces drag on straightaways and than returns to its maximum downforce position for corners.
Red Bull and Ferrari hope the stricter regulations will improve their competitiveness. McLaren, however, believes the test will have minimal impact. The phenomenon of flexible front wings has been useful in tuning cars between high and low-speed cornering performance, particularly with the current generation of cars introduced in 2022.
These cars,which rely on underbody downforce from Venturi tunnels,tend to exhibit low-speed understeer and high-speed oversteer. By reducing the effectiveness of front wings at higher speeds, teams can mitigate nervousness in fast corners without compromising low-speed handling.
McLaren and Mercedes are considered pioneers of this approach. Whether the tougher tests will have a notable effect remains to be seen. The track’s combination of medium and high-speed corners should favor Red Bull, as it shares characteristics with circuits like Suzuka, Jeddah, and Imola, where Max Verstappen has shown strong performance. These tracks contrast with those having lower average cornering speeds, such as Miami, Monaco, and Bahrain.
What’s next
The impact of the FIA’s front-wing flexibility test will become clearer as teams gather more data and adjust their setups in upcoming races. The competition remains fierce as teams vie for every advantage on the track.