Mercedes' "two-phase" front wing activation a reliability issue, not an exploit
The FIA accepted Mercedes' explanation for an odd front wing quirk in China that caught the eye of its Formula 1 rivals
Front wing of George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Marcel van Dorst / EYE4images / NurPhoto via Getty Images
Mercedes' peculiar straight mode activation of its front wing, which caught the attention of some of its Formula 1 rivals, was the result of a reliability issue rather than a deliberate exploit, Motorsport.com has learned.
Mercedes caught the eye of its rivals at the Chinese Grand Prix when footage emerged of maiden race winner Kimi Antonelli as his front wing appeared to close in two separate stages at the end of the straight. This raised various theories about whether or not the Brackley team was doing something sinister to gain an advantage.
Teams can only have two different front and rear wing positions between corner mode and straight mode, and as per the FIA regulations there is a 400-millisecond window to transition from one mode to the other.
Antonelli's wing appeared to change stance twice, falling outside of the window, with it understood that one unnamed F1 team raised a question about the issue to the FIA. Mercedes' main 2026 rival Ferrari denied being behind the query.
But on Thursday morning, Motorsport.com learned that the phenomenon was the result of a reliability issue, presumably related to a lack of hydraulic pressure, to revert the wing to its upwards position.
It is understood the FIA has accepted the Mercedes team's explanation, and its willingness to remedy the issue as soon as possible suggested to the governing body that the team was seeing the front wing problem as a performance drain rather than a benefit, as it upsets the car's aero balance an additional time before entering a braking zone.
Photos from Japanese GP - Thursday
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Share Or Save This Story
"It's only going to get better" - How Audi is responding to rocky start to F1 2026
Lando Norris on fixing F1: "Get rid of the battery"
Inside Cadillac's Miami GP homecoming - "We're trying to give F1 fans something different"
Kimi Antonelli's support system crucial to F1 title fight, says David Coulthard
Guenther Steiner predicts George Russell title blow if Kimi Antonelli can "keep his cool"
'Antonelli and Sinner, Sinner and Antonelli' - Italy should handle its latest sporting hero with care
Even Kurt Busch felt Kyle Busch should have been penalized by NASCAR
Indy 500 Day 1 practice results: Alex Palou leads the way at 225.937mph
Scott McLaughlin pushing to avenge last year’s ‘embarrassing’ Indy 500 pace lap crash
Driver arrested and banned after ramming car in the pits, knocking over crew members
How F1's planned 60-40 power split for 2027 will affect each manufacturer
"It's only going to get better" - How Audi is responding to rocky start to F1 2026
Inside the brain chemistry of F1 high performance
Are we at a turning point for Verstappen – and F1?
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments