By Jonathan Noble Saturday, May 12th 2007, 20:00 GMT
McLaren have played down the threat of another Formula One flexi-wing controversy, despite concerns from rival teams that their new 'bridge' wing is moving at high speed.
The Woking-based team have introduced the high wing, which spans across the top of their nose, as part of major new aerodynamic developments introduced for the Spanish Grand Prix.
The radical design has been examined with keen interest from rival teams, but some have now expressed unease at the manner in which it appears to flex.
On-board video footage from Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton's cars clearly shows the wing flexing down on the straights when exposed to the forces experienced at high speeds, before moving back up when the car loses speed into corners.
Although teams have expressed their unease at the design, there are no suggestions that any are unhappy enough to lodge an official protest with the FIA.
One senior technical figure, who did not wish to be identified, said: "It looks quite flexible, but it is up to the FIA to accept it or not accept it. I would say it is quite obvious."
But McLaren boss Ron Dennis has insisted that the flexing of the wing is not out of the ordinary, and is in no way an attempt by his team to pursue the flexi-wing practices that have been adopted by some of his rivals in the past.
"I think you will find that, because it is measured, the whole front wing structure moves an extremely small amount," said Dennis. "It has a degree of vertical compliance but it is feathering.
"The aeroelasticity has been exploited by other teams and is designed to reduce the drag, but what you are seeing is a degree of deflection coming from the load. It is a very small amount and it is very stiff.
"You would all feel comfortable if you went and put your hand on it and gave it a good push. No team has voiced any opinion and the FIA considers the whole thing well within the regulations."
Hamilton has played down the impact that the new wing has had on McLaren's performance this weekend.
"I think as you have seen in the test, Ferrari and us have made a step forward and I think that it was not just the front wing," he said. "The whole package is better.
"We have improved some of the aerodynamics and, if you look at the car, we have taken some of the flaps on the tub off. All these things together have made the car slightly better."
