Windsor expected more from Red Bull: “Strange they haven’t found their own solution” – Peter Windsor has expressed his surprise at Red Bull Racing’s approach to the ongoing debate over flexi-wings in Formula One. The former Williams team principal had expected the Austrian outfit to come up with their own technical solution rather than refer the matter to the FIA.
While Windsor does not find it unusual for additional regulations to be introduced, he is perplexed by Red Bull’s decision to seek the intervention of the governing body rather than pioneer an innovative approach themselves.
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The growing flexi-wing controversy
The flexi-wing debate has become a major topic of discussion in the Formula One paddock. The controversy has been brewing for some time, with last season’s use of flexible front and rear wings by McLaren the subject of much debate. Although the concept was initially associated with the British outfit, it has since been adopted by several teams on the grid. However, the FIA has decided to introduce regulations aimed at curbing excessive front wing flexibility, a move that has drawn criticism from certain quarters, particularly Red Bull Racing.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has expressed his frustration at the timing of the FIA’s decision, with the changes not coming into effect until the ninth race of the season. This delay has raised concerns about whether teams will be able to maximise the performance advantages of their existing designs before the new restrictions come into force.
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Red Bull’s decision to call in the FIA
Windsor believes Red Bull had two clear options in response to last season’s flexi-wing development. “You can go to the FIA, which is what Red Bull and Ferrari did last year, or you can make your own version of the flexi-wing,” he said in a video on Cameron’s CC YouTube channel. While the second option – creating their own version of the technology – may have been riskier, it was still a viable route.
According to Windsor, developing an in-house Flexi-Wing could have posed several challenges. “The latter is risky in many ways because it could suddenly be banned, it might not work, it could cost a lot of money and other teams could copy it. So the FIA route was chosen,” he explains.
By opting for regulatory intervention rather than direct competition, Red Bull and Ferrari put the decision in the hands of the FIA, which eventually ruled that McLaren’s solution was legal. However, the governing body has since announced further changes to the technical regulations, further complicating matters. Windsor sees this as part of the FIA’s inconsistent approach to enforcement. “What we are seeing now is this bumpy road of the FIA in applying the rules. This is nothing new in F1. It is not at all surprising that the rules are being changed.
Why wasn’t Red Bull at the forefront of innovation?
One of the most surprising aspects of the flexi wing saga is that Red Bull, a team renowned for its aerodynamic expertise, did not take the lead in developing the concept. The bulk of McLaren’s aerodynamic upgrades, including the flexi-wing solution, were unveiled during the Miami Grand Prix weekend. The idea is largely credited to Rob Marshall, the engineer who joined McLaren from Red Bull in 2022.
“Rob Marshall was an excellent engineer before he joined Red Bull, but he became an even better engineer at Red Bull,” said Windsor. Given the close relationship between Marshall and Red Bull’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, Windsor finds it difficult to believe that Red Bull did not anticipate or replicate the flexi-wing concept.
“It is inconceivable that Adrian [Newey] would not have quickly copied or anticipated that idea. It seems strange to me that it would not have happened because he knows Rob Marshall inside out. However, it has been revealed that Newey has not been actively working on the Red Bull F1 car for the 2024 season, instead concentrating on the RB17 project.
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A strategic decision or a missed opportunity?
Rather than innovate in response to McLaren’s approach, Red Bull, along with Ferrari, took the matter to the FIA. The governing body eventually ruled that McLaren had to modify their rear wing, but allowed them to continue using their front wing. This decision left Windsor questioning Red Bull’s approach. “I don’t deny that McLaren had a very good flex wing on the car. The car was certainly very strong. I find it strange that Red Bull didn’t try to develop their own solution and instead went straight to the FIA.
For a team that has historically been at the forefront of aerodynamic advances, Red Bull’s decision to seek regulatory intervention rather than push the boundaries of design is indeed puzzling. Whether it was a strategic move to limit their rivals’ advantages, or a missed opportunity to gain an edge, remains a topic of debate.
As the season progresses and the new FIA regulations come into effect, it will be interesting to see how the teams, including Red Bull, adapt to the evolving technical landscape. The controversy surrounding flexi-wings is unlikely to die down any time soon, and may yet play a key role in shaping the championship battle.
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