Ferrari lodge FIA complaint over alleged illegal Mercedes front wing
Ferrari have reported Mercedes to motorsport’s governing body the FIA over an allegedly illegal front-wing design ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
The Maranello-based outfit raised concerns after reviewing onboard footage from the recent Chinese Grand Prix.
Technical analysis suggests their championship rivals might be using a sophisticated two-phase closing mechanism to gain an aerodynamic advantage.
Silver Arrows dominate early season
The Brackley squad have enjoyed a flawless start to the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.
They secured back-to-back one-two finishes in the opening rounds in Australia and China.
This early dominance under the sweeping new technical regulations has inevitably drawn intense scrutiny from the rest of the paddock.
Two-phase wing mechanism questioned
Current rules dictate that front and rear wings must complete their closing motion within a strict 400-millisecond window.
Video evidence indicates the championship leaders may be exploiting a loophole by completing this action in two distinct stages.
The initial movement occurs within the legal timeframe, allowing sensors to confirm closure before a secondary, more gradual phase eases the component into its final position.
Mounting pressure on the FIA
This is not the first time the German manufacturer has faced technical investigations this season.
Rivals previously questioned their engine compression ratio, suspecting a method to exceed the strict 16:1 limit at operating temperatures.
While they were cleared of any wrongdoing in that instance, the regulatory board intends to close the engine loophole during the August summer break.
With no official ruling yet on the aerodynamic system, the reigning race winners remain overwhelming favourites at Suzuka.
