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BARCELONA, Spain — Lewis Hamilton labelled the clampdown on Formula 1’s bending front wings “a waste of money” after seeing McLaren’s advantage remain untouched out in front.
Speculation coming into the Spanish Grand Prix was that a new directive from the governing FIA around how much flexing is allowed on the front wing would dent or eradicate McLaren’s gap to the rest.
Teams have effectively been working on a different front wing to introduce in line with the new rule for the Barcelona race.
No turnaround materialised — Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris duly locked out the front row, having looked untouchable throughout qualifying.
“What a waste of money,” Hamilton laughed after the session. “It’s just wasted everyone’s money.”
“It’s literally changed nothing. Everyone’s 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 sense. “
He later added: “We should be giving it to charity.”
Hamilton had predicted ahead of the weekend that the change would be minimal, having seen little to get excited about in terms of a lap time gain from Ferrari’s simulator.
The seven-time world champion qualified fifth, half a