Verstappen Slams FIA Over ‘Unfair’ Rule Change Ahead of S… read more
As the 2025 Formula 1 season builds toward its midpoint, controversy brews off the track as well. Jos Verstappen, father of four-time world champion Max Verstappen, has publicly criticized the FIA over a new regulation set to be enforced starting at the Spanish Grand Prix. The rule concerns the flexing of front wings, and according to Jos, its late introduction into the season could be seen as an unfair advantage that has already benefited certain teams—most notably McLaren.
McLaren’s impressive pace in the early stages of the season has been one of the biggest talking points of the year. The Woking-based team currently leads the constructors’ championship with a commanding 176-point advantage over Red Bull Racing. Despite this, Max Verstappen remains firmly in contention for the drivers’ title, having won two of the first eight races and trailing championship leader Oscar Piastri by only 25 points heading into the Spanish GP. Yet the timing of the rule change regarding front wing flexibility has raised eyebrows within the Red Bull camp.
Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Limburger, Jos Verstappen expressed frustration over what he perceives as an inconsistent application of regulations. “They want to have an exciting season and not someone who wins 20 races so it becomes monotonous,” Jos stated, alluding to his son’s dominant performance in the 2023 season, during which Max won 19 races. “But I do think there should be a level playing field. Like with those flexible front wings, which will only be banned from next week in Spain. Then certain teams have benefited from that for too long, I don’t think that’s fair.”
The FIA’s new clampdown on front wing flexing comes after growing suspicions that some teams have exploited loopholes in aerodynamic regulations. These flexi-wings can provide a significant performance advantage by adjusting airflow in a way that enhances straight-line speed without sacrificing cornering performance. The governing body has now opted to introduce stricter testing and regulations to curb this potential advantage, but only beginning with the Spanish Grand Prix—the ninth round of the season.
While McLaren is expected to be among the teams most affected by this change, Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur also weighed in on the rule’s potential impact. According to Vasseur, the new regulation could be a “game changer” for the competitive dynamics of the season. Though Ferrari have struggled even more than Red Bull in early 2025, Vasseur believes the rule change might not drastically alter the championship outcome but could significantly improve the competitiveness of individual race weekends. “It will tighten the field and allow more teams to fight for podiums and perhaps even wins,” he said.
For Max Verstappen, the rule change might actually offer a timely boost. With only a 25-point gap to Piastri and more than half the season remaining, Red Bull could regain crucial performance ground as the new regulations take effect. Jos Verstappen’s comments, while critical, also hint at optimism that the second half of the season could see a much more level playing field—perhaps just in time for Max to mount a serious title charge and aim for a record-equalling fifth consecutive world championship.
Whether the new rules will truly shift the balance of power remains to be seen. But with tensions rising and the battle heating up both on and off the track, fans can expect plenty of drama as Formula 1 heads into its European summer stretch—starting with a highly anticipated showdown in Spain.
