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Those Wing Failures …
The recent spate of rear wing failures during F1 testing have increased speculation that designers are deliberately allowing rear wing mountings to flex so that at maximum speed they tilt slightly backwards, causing less drag. Due to the critical nature of wing plane elevations, even minute changes in the angle-of-attack can bring significant improvements in top speed.
None of the teams that have experienced wing failures, including Ferrari, have admitted to this practice and the failures are being variously ascribed to excessive vibrations and V-10 harmonics.
In 1997 Ferrari developed drooping front wings which bent closer to the ground at high speeds. These were eventually banned by the FIA on the basis that they were moveable aerodynamic devices. It would be almost certain that flexible rear wings would also fall foul of this regulation.
In Autosport magazine Damon Hill is quoted as saying that at Barcelona testing he has personally observed quite a few cars go past the pits with their rear wings leaning backwards.
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