FIA introduces tougher flexi-wing test

In the wake of the fresh controversy caused by the flexing of Red Bull Racing's rear wing at the Spanish Grand Prix, the FIA informed Formula One's teams yesterday that it is to revise its testing procedures immediately.

Up until now, the FIA has checked the rear wings with a pull-back test, where a 500 Newton force is applied horizontally across the wing span to ensure it does not deflect more than 5 millimetres.

But from the next race, the FIA will also apply a vertical load of 500 Newtons to each side of the rear wing - and it will be stricter than ever on how much the wing can deflect.

Although most deflection tests have currently allowed a tolerance of 5mm, technical delegate Charlie Whiting has told the teams that the FIA will allow just two millimeters of movement on the rear wings from now on.

The clampdown comes ahead of Montreal, one of the venues on the calendar where a flexing wing - which can improve straightline speed without compromising downforce for the corners - can be most beneficial.

Last year at the race, BMW-Sauber were threatened with a protest over their rear wing after rivals Honda felt that it was flexing too much.

The Montreal race last year also coincided with the introduction of mandatory slot-gap separators on the rear wing to ensure the gap between the two wing elements remained constant when the car was at speed.

That move appeared to bring an end to the controversy at the time, with the focus switching to movable floors, but the matter was thrust back into the spotlight after the Barcelona race.

As autosport.com revealed, on-board footage of David Coulthard's RB3 showed the rear wing pivoting back on the straight before dramatically popping back up into its vertical position when the car slowed.

This prompted some concerns from rival teams, who subsequently urged the FIA to take action to ensure that no outfit was benefiting from flexible parts.

Despite the suspicions from rival teams, Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner was adamant his team had done nothing wrong in Barcelona.

"As far as we are concerned, the car fully complies with the regulations," he told autosport.com at the time.

"No other team or the FIA have mentioned this matter to us, and if the FIA felt there was an issue then I am sure it would have been raised with us. Our car passed post-scrutineering in Spain without a problem."