Red Bull Frustrated, Ferrari and McLaren Playing with Fire: Is F1 Facing Another Technical Scandal?
As the 2025 Formula 1 season approaches, an old debate has resurfaced: are some teams exploiting a loophole in the aerodynamic regulations to gain top-speed advantages? Red Bull, keeping a close eye on its rivals, has pointed fingers at Ferrari and McLaren, suspecting them of testing a modified version of the controversial “mini-DRS.” Meanwhile, the FIA has already tightened its regulations, but the Bahrain tests suggest that things are not yet fully under control.
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The “Mini-DRS”: An old trick making a comeback
The idea of a “mini-DRS” is nothing new in F1. In 2024, McLaren attempted to exploit the flexibility of its rear wing to reduce drag at high speeds without officially activating the DRS. The FIA quickly caught on and tightened flexibility tests to counteract the loophole. Now, in 2025, Red Bull suspects that Ferrari and McLaren are using a modified version of this solution. According to Pierre Waché, Red Bull’s technical director, video analysis has shown suspicious movement in some rear wings—especially on the McLaren and Ferrari—during Bahrain testing.
“You can clearly see that some teams are still pushing the limits. McLaren and Ferrari seem to be testing a rear wing that moves at high speeds, and it’s quite visible in some videos,” Waché told The Race.
The FIA is cracking down… But still powerless for now
In response to these suspicions, the FIA hasn’t stayed idle. Back in 2024, it reinforced regulations to ban any unintended aerodynamic behavior, including stricter rear wing opening limitations and prohibiting intermediate positions between “open” and “closed.” For 2025, the FIA is taking it even further:
- New flexibility tests now limit rear wing deformation to 6mm under load, with the upper flap allowed to move just 7mm maximum.
- High-speed cameras will be installed on cars to monitor even the slightest variations in real-time.
- Reference stickers will be placed on rear wings to precisely measure any abnormal movement.
These new measures will be enforced from the Australian Grand Prix, but for now, pre-season testing remains a grey area. Teams are not subject to the same strict controls as in a race, allowing them to experiment with different solutions without immediate penalties.
Teams pushing the limits… But for how long?
Formula 1 is a constant chess game. Teams will always push regulations to their limits to gain every last tenth of a second. What Red Bull sees as a potential loophole may simply be a clever but legal optimization. And Ferrari and McLaren aren’t the only ones under scrutiny. Mercedes has also been spotted with a “dynamic” rear wing on the straights, though its effect appears less extreme than what has been seen on the red and orange cars.
“At this stage, it’s hard to say if it’s a true mini-DRS or just natural wing flexibility,” an anonymous engineer in the paddock explained. “The real test will be in Melbourne, where we’ll see if some teams have found a way around the regulations.”
What will happen at the first race of the season?
If the FIA detects excessive movement on certain cars, it can demand immediate modifications before the first race. But this debate won’t stop there. If a team successfully exploits a “mini-DRS” effect while staying within the FIA’s tolerance limits, there will technically be nothing illegal about it. It would then be up to other teams to file a protest and push for further rule changes. For now, these suspicions remain just theories. But one thing is certain: at Melbourne, every detail of the rear wingswill be closely analyzed by the FIA, rival teams, and fans alike.
This article explores suspicions surrounding Ferrari and McLaren’s potential use of a “mini-DRS,” Red Bull’s reaction, and the FIA’s new measures. Formula 1 is gearing up for another technical battle where every millimeter counts.
Images: © Scuderia Ferrari / Red Bull Content pool
