Azerbaijan GP Protests: FIA establishes locator dots to keep Wing-Flexing in-check

Azerbaijan GP Protests: FIA establishes locator dots to keep Wing-Flexing in-check

Max Verstappen

Entering the sixth Grand Prix of the 2021 Formula 1 season, the threat of protests regarding the so called ‘limbo-wings,’ prevails after the first practice session. These protests were given birth because of a video from Spanish GP which indicated Red Bull’ Title Challenger RB16 flexing to a considerable degree. That induced FIA to announce that new load tests will be introduced from the French GP onwards and introduced locator dots in Baku to testify for the same.

Yet to the discontentment of Mercedes and its CEO Toto Wolff, insisted such flexing offers a considerable advantage on the long ‘straight’ at Baku City Circuit.

Azerbaijan GP Protests: How Does The Locator Dots Work?

Red Bull in Azerbaijan GP

To measure potential flexing, the FIA has placed 12 dotted stickers on the rear wings of all cars, with footage to then be reviewed from the rear-facing cameras that will allow motorsport’s governing body to accurately measure the level of flexing.

FS Video

What Did Andreas Seidl Say Abut The Locator Dots?

Andreas Seidl

Speaking about the same McLaren’s Andreas Seidl stated, “It’s good to see that these stickers have been introduced for this weekend, which gives the FIA a better possibility to measure what’s going on.”

Andreas Seidl, whose teams complies with the regulations on rear-wing flexing, has called for action to be taken if a team is found to contravene Article 3.8 of the FIA’s technical regulations.

Seidl added, “To my understanding, these dots simply help to measure what’s happening because when we look at the videos from Barcelona, it’s difficult to get detailed numbers in terms of what is flexing and how exactly.”

Sergio Perez
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez

Having said that it remains to be seen what happens in the second practice session as Max Verstappen clocks the fastest time in the first. Followed by both the Ferrari drivers who continue to impress on the street circuit.

While Lewis Hamilton remainder comparatively slow and managed to finish the seventh best.

Also read: “Mercedes still the team to beat on normal tracks”: Max Verstappen

Also read: Mattia Binotto sees Red Bull setting an example for Ferrari