Brawn: current wing tests are sufficient

Rear wing deflection has become a hot topic since last week's Bahrain Grand Prix, after Renault's Pat Symonds and others suggested that the wing on the Ferrari 248 F1 may meet the letter of the law, but was not within its spirit.

Deflection is currently measured by applying loads at certain points on the rear wing, but Ferrari's rivals have pointed out this doesn't mean that the wing cannot deflect between those points.

The Ferrari rear wing was given the all-clear by FIA delegate Charlie Whiting, and Brawn was adamant that the current tests used to verify the wing legality are accurate.

Furthermore, the Briton insisted that any component is designed right up to the very limit allowed in the regulations, with rear wings being no different.

Asked about the accuracy of the testing method employed by the FIA, Brawn said: "It's accurate enough. It's a device, they put a load on it, and they measure the deflection. It's an accurate enough process, and we all have a set of rules that we comply to.

"Within the spirit of the regulations it's up to the F1 teams to take the maximum advantage as they can from the regulations. It's been like that ever since I've been involved in F1, and any team that wants to be competitive has to take that approach. And that's everything.

"You run within a one kilo of the weight limit. You don't run 10kgs within the weight limit because you want to be safe, you run one kilo within the weight limit.

"The FIA defines how stiff they want the wing to be, and you make it that stiff, or slightly stiffer.

"That's how it's laid out in the regulations now, and we may well see some new tests evolve in the next few races. But I think what we have now is accurate."

However, with calls for the FIA to adopt stricter tests, Brawn said he expects the FIA to give the teams ample notice should they choose to introduce new methods, and not make such changes during a Grand Prix weekend.

"They're entitled to change the regulations any time they want, which may be the case," Brawn said.

"Maybe they decide that the wings are evolving in a way they don't like, and they'll change the regulations again. But that's their prerogative.

"In theory, they can change that today. The trouble is that if they enforce structural changes to something as critical as a rear wing, it's not a sensible thing to do [in short notice].

"If people have to modify the rear wings because they impose a test, and they try to impose that during a race weekend, you've got a situation where a critical component - and a very highly stressed component - could be compromised.

"So I don't think it's very sensible. History shows that they've always done it between races, and gave people a couple of weeks to react. I think that's the most likely scenario, if they choose to change."