FIA release statement as major F1 rule change confirmed for Chinese Grand Prix

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, have released a statement confirming a rule change ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.

On Sunday, the first race of the 2025 season took place around Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.

McLaren star Lando Norris converted his pole position into a race win as he finished ahead of Max Verstappen and George Russell.

The Brit looks likely to be the man to beat again this weekend when the Chinese Grand Prix takes place in Shanghai.

However, ahead of the race, there has been a major change in the current technical rules, which teams have to abide by when designing their cars.

As reported by Italian news outlet AutoRacer, the FIA were 'extremely unhappy' with the 'flexi-wing' being used by a number of F1 teams.

The 'flexi-wing' has been a hot topic ahead of 2025 after teams found a way of making their rear wing flex beyond what is intended, in a bid to add extra pace, which has been described as a 'mini DRS'.

DRS - Drag Reduction System, allows the rear wing to open up, which reduces aerodynamic drag in order to increase top speed for overtaking.

Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache said earlier in the year: "It is still going on. I think Ferrari and McLaren are doing the mini-DRS stuff still."

Currently, the distance between the main plane and the flap of the rear wing must not vary by more than 2mm.

FIA announce major rule change ahead of Chinese Grand Prix

However, ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, the distance has been reduced to 0.5mm.

An official statement from the FIA read: "Having analysed footage from the rear wing deformations combined to the static deflections measured inside the FIA garage in Melbourne, the FIA has concluded that sufficient grounds exist for a tougher test to be introduced from the forthcoming Chinese Grand Prix on the upper rear wing.

"More specifically, Article 3.15.17, introduced in 2025, states that if 75kg of vertical load is applied on either extremity of the rear wing mainplane, the distance between the mainplane and the flap (also known as “slot gap”) must not vary by more than 2mm."

It continued: "From the forthcoming Grand Prix in Shanghai, this limit will be reduced to 0.5mm. Due to the short notice for Shanghai only a tolerance of 0.25mm will be added to this new limit. The Teams were informed of this revised test early Monday 17th of March.

"The FIA wishes to further confirm that during the Melbourne event all cars tested against the requirements of Article 3.15.17 and found to comply, therefore all cars raced in Melbourne were deemed to be legal."