New regulations: Ferrari scores points in the first training session in Barcelona!

New regulations: Ferrari scores points in the first training session in Barcelona!

The first training session under the new front wing regulations took place on May 30, 2025 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. This first unit brought significant changes. The regulations on the flexibility of front wings, which are crucial in Formula 1, have been tightened. The allowable flexibility under load has been reduced from 15mm to 10mm, bringing new challenges and strategies for teams. This was reported by the Small newspaper.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff expressed optimism and indicated that Ferrari could potentially take advantage of these new rules. He described Ferrari's approach as the most conservative when it comes to the flexi wing. At the same time, he noted that the pecking order between teams should not be fundamentally changed. Peter Bayer, CEO of Racing Bulls, shared this assessment and claimed that the positions in the overall standings will remain stable.

Expectations and analysis

Max Verstappen, who is currently in third place in the World Cup standings with 136 points, does not expect any significant time gains or losses between the teams due to the new regulations. This suggests that teams will continue to fight for the top spots despite the changes. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday at 4:00 p.m., followed by the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday at 3:00 p.m., which will be broadcast live on ORF 1 and Sky.

The discussion about the different wing designs shows that Ferrari and Sauber use a front wing in which the flaps towards the end plate are narrower and are higher on the inside than on the outside. In contrast, Mercedes and Red Bull use an inverted design in which the flaps are higher on the outside. This variety of approaches leads to intensive discussions regarding the effectiveness of the different concepts, despite the early phase of testing Car Motor and Sport reported.

Technical details are crucial. The front wing is a central element of a complex aerodynamic design. The new era of Formula 1 aims to promote exciting duels while reducing damaging turbulence behind the cars. For example, the number of adjustable elements on the front wing was reduced from five to four to enable strategic changes. These developments were necessary due to Corona and a voluntary development ban by teams last season, which changed the direction of Car Motor and Sport clarified.

The changes to the front wing design, such as increasing the wing angle from 11 to 21 degrees, are intended to ensure the cars are less prone to turbulence while increasing speed in the new season. Given the variety of designs and their effectiveness, teams like Mercedes, Red Bull and Renault will have to respond significantly to Ferrari and Sauber's concepts if they prove to be superior.

The upcoming races and the teams' reactions to the new regulations remain exciting to watch. The example of flexible wing designs clearly shows how important technology and engineering are in motorsport.