Slater breaks down Hamilton’s flexi-wing criticism: “F1 is just an expensive business, unfortunately”

Sky Sports’ Craig Slater has analysed the flexi-wing clampdown that came into effect this weekend. The pundit also reacted to seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton’s claims that the money spent on making these changes was a waste and should have gone to charity instead.

The FIA introduced the rule change in January to be set in motion for the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. While many anticipated the rule changes to result in a change of dynamic on track, there seems to be little difference between teams going into this weekend’s race.

Speaking to the media in Barcelona, the British driver claimed that the rule change was a “waste of money.”

“The balance is definitely not as nice as what we had before. It hasn’t made any [difference to the leaders],” Hamilton said.

“What a waste of money, it’s just wasted everyone’s money. It’s literally changed nothing. Everyone’s bent wings still bend, it is just half the bending, and everyone’s had to make new wings, and spend more money to make these. It doesn’t make any sense.”

He added, “Should be giving that money to charity.”

Discussing these comments, Slater explained on Sky Sports News:

“We’re talking tiny margins here. I wish I had a pencil on me because they basically changed the rule about how the wings can… they’re made of metal, they have to be able to [flex], or they would break.

“But the point is, they used to be able to flex by 15 mm – 1.5 centimetres – they can now flex by just 1 centimetre. But the cost of actually enforcing all of that, as Lewis rightly says, it’s £100,000 to develop a wing or build one. You’re talking multiples of that to redesign the wing.

“I mean, it’s not right to say that the money could have gone to charity because, listen, Formula 1 teams have a $140 million [budget] cap per year. All the teams will spend up to that. But I know what he’s kind of getting at. He’s saying it’s money spent which hasn’t really changed anything.

“Let’s see. I actually think maybe it might have taken an edge from McLaren, who were the leading team, and that’s what Red Bull and Ferrari were hoping. Max Verstappen was actually quicker on the long runs on Friday, so let’s see.

“But you get what Lewis is saying. Just to defend the FIA: they have static tests with these wings. Under the load of a race, they were moving much more than they could test statically.

“And they predicted that manipulation of the front wings was going to get worse, which is why they changed the rules.

“So I understand why they did it, but F1 is just an expensive business, unfortunately.”