Esteban Ocon is facing disqualification from the qualifying session of the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix after the rear wing on his Haas car failed an FIA deflection test. This incident occurred during the chaotic qualifying rounds on the streets of Baku and could force the French driver to start the race from the pitlane on Sunday.
Technical Inspection Reveals Rear Wing Flex Beyond Allowed Limits
FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer reported that Ocon’s rear wing main plane exhibited deflection exceeding the 0.5mm limit permitted under the FIA’s regulations. Bauer’s official statement detailed the findings:
“A rear wing main plane tip deflection test according to TR Article 3.15.17 was carried out on car 31. The deflection figures measured on this rear wing exceeded the allowed deflection of 0.5mm. Therefore I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration.”
This referral means the stewards will decide whether Ocon will be disqualified from qualifying results.
Understanding the FIA’s Toughened Rear Wing Regulations
The regulation cited, Article 3.15.17, was tightened before the season to limit aero-elastic manipulations by teams, targeting the reduction of rear wing flexibility under load. The maximum allowed deflection was reduced from 2mm to 0.5mm when subjected to a 750Nm force during static testing, aiming to stop the so-called “mini-DRS” effect. This clampdown reflects the FIA’s ongoing efforts to maintain fair aerodynamic performance across competitors.
Previous Regulatory Moves And Ocon’s Qualifying Struggles
Earlier in the season, specifically at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, the FIA had also increased scrutiny on front wing flexing to curb aero-elastic advantages, adding further pressure on teams. Esteban Ocon and the Haas F1 Team are the first to be penalized under these revised rules. Ocon’s qualifying position in Baku was 18th, hampered by severe brake issues, which limited the damage caused by the impending penalty.
Ocon Describes Braking Problems Affecting His Performance
Ocon shared his frustration over the braking difficulties experienced during qualifying:
“We had a massive braking problem in qualifying,”
he said.
“I think in my lap I must have locked up three times and couldn’t get the car stopped, ran wide in most corners. Obviously, the wind didn’t make things easy, but that’s not the reason why we are out.”
He elaborated on the inconsistency compared to his teammate:
“We need to investigate that. It was the same thing in FP3. I was braking 30 or 40 bars less than Ollie [Bearman] and still couldn’t get the car stopped and I was going straight into the run-off areas.”
Adding further disappointment, Ocon said,
“There’s much more pace in the car and it’s a day wasted, so I hope we can get some opportunities tomorrow. We’ve seen sometimes a bit of difficulties in braking, but today was out of this world. It was insane.”
Implications of the Rear Wing Flex Penalty for Ocon and Haas
This penalty marks an important moment as the FIA enforces its strict technical directives designed to prevent aerodynamic advantages through wing flexing. For Ocon, starting from the pitlane will limit his chances on Sunday, but given his already low qualifying position and car issues, the sporting impact might be manageable. For Haas and other teams, this sets a precedent that technical compliance will be tightly monitored throughout the remainder of the season.
