Flexi-wing

A flexi-wing is a wing component on a race car, particularly in Formula 1, that is designed to bend or flex under aerodynamic pressure to improve both straight-line speed and cornering performance.

When a race car travels at high speeds, the air flowing over and under the wings creates enormous downward pressure. Teams cleverly design their wings to bend slightly under this pressure, which changes how the wing cuts through the air. This bending reduces drag - the force that slows the car down - allowing it to reach higher top speeds on straight sections of the track.

The clever part happens when the car slows down for corners. As the speed decreases, there's less air pressure pushing on the wing, so it returns to its original shape. This provides maximum downforce - the force that pushes the car down onto the track for better grip - exactly when the driver needs it most for cornering.

Teams achieve this flexibility by carefully constructing wings using carbon fiber materials. By layering the carbon fiber in specific patterns, engineers can control exactly how and where the wing will bend under different loads.

However, flexi-wings exist in a gray area of motorsport regulations. While flexible bodywork is technically banned in Formula 1, there's an acceptable tolerance level. The FIA (motorsport's governing body) conducts strict load tests, applying up to 1000N of pressure to wings to measure how much they bend.

This has led to controversy over the years. In 2021, Red Bull and Mercedes accused each other of using illegal wing flexibility. More recently in 2024, McLaren's rear wing created a small gap that acted like a "mini DRS" system, helping with straight-line speed before closing for corners. The FIA eventually required McLaren to modify this design.

The ongoing cat-and-mouse game between teams pushing boundaries and regulators tightening rules makes flexi-wings one of the most technically fascinating and controversial aspects of modern motorsport engineering.