The Spanish Grand Prix starts at 14:00 BST on Sunday Lewis Hamilton says the introduction of a new rule clamping down on front wing flexibility at the Spanish Grand Prix was "a waste of money". Governing body the FIA imposed a stiffer load test on front wings to try to limit the amount teams could exploit their movement on track for aerodynamic advantage. But Hamilton said: "Just wasted everyone's money. It's literally changed nothing. "Everyone's wings still bend, it's just half the bending, and everyone's had to make new wings and spend more money to make these. It just doesn't make sense." The Ferrari driver added that he "wasn't expecting" anything of the change before coming to Spain. "I drove it on the simulator, and it's pretty much exactly the same, Hamilton said. "A little bit more oversteer in the high speed. Could have given it all to charity, you know?" A new front wing in F1 costs about £100,000, in addition to research and development resources. The FIA delayed the introduction of the rule until this race, the ninth of the season, because it expected that the vast majority of teams would be introducing new front wings in Spain anyway as part of their normal development programmes. A spokesperson for the FIA declined to comment specifically on Hamilton's remarks. The move is widely perceived within F1 to have come after pressure from Red Bull on the FIA over McLaren's use of flexi-wings, which were being exploited by all the top teams and most of the others. Red Bull have been raising questions with the FIA in recent months about a number of aspects of the McLaren car on the grounds of legality but no issue has been found with its design and no action has been taken. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said: "We always thought that the impact would have been relatively negligible because when we saw the numbers associated to this change of aero-elastic effect, they were small numbers in terms of downforce and in terms of variation of downforce with speed. "When we tested this wing in Imola [two races ago], if we hadn't told Lando that it was a different wing, he wouldn't have spotted it, and when we simulated it, it was almost zero. "So we were not expecting a change of the pecking order as a function of the technical directive that was released for this race. "In terms of wasting the money or not, this is not a point of view that we actually reflected on, because the technical directive has been there for a long time, so this was long-planned and we could find efficiency as well in terms of how you planned to introduce this modification." Stella added that the "economics" behind the rule changes "must have been slightly inefficient", but he said: "I don't think this is a major factor." Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris locked out the front row in Barcelona ahead of Max Verstappen Flexible front wings are employed by teams because they allow them to gain straight-line speed for the same cornering performance, or improve cornering while not sacrificing speed on the straights. The idea is for the flaps of the front wing to bend downwards under load at speed, reducing drag, before moving back up to increase downforce for corners. Under the current generation of cars, teams have also found that flexi-wings improve their balance across a range of cornering speeds. The cars, which produce most of their downforce from shared underbodies known as venturis, are prone to oversteer (too little rear grip compared to front) in high-speed corners, and low-speed understeer (not enough front grip). The flexi wings allow teams to improve the low-speed performance while not making the cars too nervous in high speed. While Lewis Hamilton has yet to make the main podium this season, he did win the sprint race in China two months ago Hamilton, who starts fifth in Barcelona, said his target was to "try and get to the podium. I haven't been on a podium for a long time". His last podium was in Las Vegas last November, when he was driving for Mercedes. He referred to former team-mate George Russell taking the lead from fourth on the grid in Spain last year. "Long way down to turn one. We saw the start George got last year," Hamilton said. "So, I will be trying my best to try and get a good start. And then otherwise, after that, it's just about managing the tyres here, which is challenging." Piastri said he was wary about "the long run to turn one, so I've got to make sure we try and get a good start". He added: "It will be an interesting race still and it's not as simple as take the lead at the start and cruise from there. It's going to be a challenge to manage the tyres, timing your stops right. There's going to be a lot going on." Verstappen said: "It's time to shine in turn one, yeah. Make it three [cars] wide for the pictures. Why not? "My long run [in Friday practice] wasn't bad, but if you look at the difference today, it will be tough to put up a really, really good fight. But that doesn't mean that we're not going try. "Like Oscar said, it's not all about the start and turn one. You need to be good on tyres. It's a long race. A lot can happen. So, I'll just try to maximise what I got."
Hamilton says new front wing rule 'waste of money'
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Hamilton Critiques FIA's New Front Wing Rule as Costly and Ineffective"
Bbc News
7.0
TruthLens AI Summary
Lewis Hamilton has expressed strong criticism regarding the recent rule change regarding front wing flexibility in Formula 1, labeling it a 'waste of money.' The FIA introduced a stricter load test for front wings at the Spanish Grand Prix in an attempt to limit teams' ability to exploit aerodynamic advantages through wing flexibility. However, Hamilton argued that the modifications have not resulted in any significant performance changes. He stated, 'It's literally changed nothing,' emphasizing that although the wings still bend, the extent of the bending has only been reduced. Consequently, teams have incurred additional costs to develop new wings, which Hamilton believes could have been better spent elsewhere, jokingly suggesting that the funds could have been donated to charity instead. The cost of a new front wing in Formula 1 is approximately £100,000, which, when combined with research and development expenses, makes the financial impact quite substantial for teams.
The introduction of this rule was delayed until the ninth race of the season, as the FIA anticipated that most teams would already be planning to debut new front wings as part of their development strategies for the race in Spain. The FIA's decision appears to have been influenced by pressure from Red Bull, who raised concerns about the legality of flexi-wings used by other teams, particularly McLaren. Despite these concerns, no rule violations were found regarding McLaren's design. Team principal Andrea Stella remarked that the impact of the rule change was expected to be minimal, as testing had shown negligible differences in aerodynamic performance. As the race approaches, Hamilton, who has yet to secure a podium finish this season, aims to capitalize on his starting position in fifth place, while his competitors, including Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, prepare for a challenging race ahead, focusing on tire management and strategic starts.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article highlights Lewis Hamilton's criticism of a new FIA rule regarding front wing flexibility in Formula 1. His remarks regarding the rule being a "waste of money" raise questions about the effectiveness and rationale behind the regulatory change.
Regulatory Implications
The new rule was intended to limit the aerodynamic advantages teams could gain from flexible front wings. However, Hamilton argues that the actual impact of the rule is negligible, as teams were required to invest in new designs that do not significantly alter performance. This raises concerns about the FIA's decision-making process and whether the rule was implemented due to real safety issues or external pressures, particularly from rival teams like Red Bull.
Financial Concerns
Hamilton's comments regarding the cost implications of the new wings—estimated around £100,000 each—suggest a broader concern about the financial burden on teams, especially smaller ones. The investment in new technology without substantial performance gains can lead to financial strain, which could ultimately affect competition within the sport.
Public Perception and Narrative
The article seems to aim at shaping public perception around the effectiveness of regulatory changes in F1. By featuring a prominent driver like Hamilton expressing skepticism, it encourages fans and the broader community to question the FIA's motives and the fairness of the sport. It also highlights a sense of frustration among drivers regarding the financial aspects of the sport.
Manipulative Elements
Although the article does not overtly manipulate facts, it does present a strong opinion from a high-profile figure, which can influence public opinion. The language used emphasizes dissatisfaction and could lead to a negative view of the FIA's management. There is a potential for the article to be interpreted as a form of advocacy for change in how regulations are approached in F1.
Industry Context
In the larger context of F1, this criticism reflects ongoing tensions between teams regarding regulations and competitive fairness. The competitive landscape is influenced by how teams adapt to rules and whether they can maintain performance while managing costs. This situation could resonate with fans concerned about the sport's direction.
Potential Impacts
The implications of this article could extend to the economic aspects of Formula 1, especially concerning team finances and sponsorships. If public sentiment shifts toward viewing the FIA's decisions as mismanaged, it could affect team funding and the attractiveness of F1 as a sport for sponsors. Additionally, the focus on financial efficiency might lead to calls for reforms in how regulations are crafted and enforced.
Community Support
The article may resonate more with fans who are critical of the current regulatory environment and those who advocate for a more equitable financial model in F1. It taps into a community that values transparency and fairness in competition.
Market Reactions
While this article itself may not directly impact stock markets, it could influence perceptions about team performance and regulatory stability in F1, potentially affecting team valuations and sponsorship deals in the long run.
Global Context
There are no direct geopolitical implications in this article, but the ongoing dynamics in Formula 1 can reflect broader trends in competitive sports and organizational governance. As F1 continues to evolve, these discussions could mirror larger conversations in other sports about regulation and commercial viability.
AI Involvement
It is unlikely that AI played a direct role in the writing of this article, as it primarily conveys human opinions and experiences. However, AI models could assist in analyzing sentiment or predicting the impact of such statements on public perception.
The overall reliability of the article is moderate; while it presents a firsthand account from a prominent figure, it is also framed in a way that highlights dissatisfaction, which could skew perceptions. The article offers valuable insights into the ongoing discourse around regulatory changes in F1 but should be considered alongside other perspectives for a balanced view.