Formula 1 World Championship 2025, Round 8, Monaco Grand Prix, Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco, Thursday 22 May 2025 - Charles Leclerc (MON) Ferrari in the FIA Press Conference.

Flexi-wing clampdown set to make F1 more driver dependant, says Leclerc

09:20, 30 May

Updated: 13:43, 30 May

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byNorberto Mujica

On the run-up to the Spanish Grand Prix it was all about the technical directive the FIA introduced to clamp down on front wing flexion, and Charles Leclerc believes it will not only impact the cars, but also the drivers.

Ferrari have been the team looking forward to this directive the most, with team principal Frederic Vasseur going as far as to say that it could be a game changer.

Questioned regarding the Frenchman's words, Leclerc said to media including GPblog: "[It] could also not change. I don't think anybody knows. I mean we know how much it's going to affect us, and not a lot."

"We don't know how much it's going to affect the others. On this we have no idea, so we'll have to wait and see. But I really don't know how much it's going to change (the F1 pecking order, ed.), the technical (directive, ed.)."

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Charles Leclerc during the Monaco Grand Prix

How the technical directive will affect not just the F1 cars, but also the drivers

Front wing flexion counters ground effect rules' side effects like understeer in low speed corners and oversteer in high speed cornering.

The revised changes to the TD018 to restraint the amount of front wing flexibility upon aerodynamic load could set teams and drivers on a quest to compensate mechanically the after effects of the TD.

This could therefore impact drivers as well, who'll be forced to drive less docile cars, notes Leclerc.

"You've got different ways of trying to improve that and reproduce the same, at least feeling-wise, for the driver. But then you end up compromising other things, which is never what you want to do."

"So, let's say that there are going to be compromises to be found, and maybe some drivers can drive with a bit more of a difficult balance, and by that you will be able to gain something as a team."

"I think we are all in the same situation, but I don't think it's going to change as much as we think in terms of feeling a little bit, but it's not going to be a big, big change."