A new controversy is brewing around the "mini-DRS" effect

      The "mini-DRS" effect in Formula 1 was discussed last year after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, when the McLaren team's rivals drew attention to the specific behavior of the upper element of the rear wing on the MCL38 car – the one that opens when the DRS is activated.

      From the outside, it seemed that the movable element of the wing seemed to open slightly in a straight line under the influence of an oncoming air flow, even when it was in a closed state – simply due to its flexibility. The FIA had to step in, and it ended up with wing flexibility tests being tightened before the start of the new season.

      Despite this, there was renewed talk of "mini-DRS" at the Bahrain tests: an analysis of the video recordings made by on-board cameras gives rise to suspicions that some teams are still trying to use this effect.

      Discussions about what might be legal and what might not have resumed with renewed vigor. The Race publication quotes an unnamed team leader as saying: "As far as you can see from the videos, it looks like the rear fenders on some cars are quite flexible. We continue to take a close look at this."

      There are two possible approaches being discussed in the paddock, which are being practiced by teams in an attempt to gain an advantage.: at high speed on straight lines, either the entire rear wing can tilt back, or on some cars the gap between the two wing elements suspiciously increases.

      On the last day of testing in Bahrain, Pierre Vache, technical director of Red Bull, said that he personally had no doubt that some rivals were still using the aforementioned "mini-DRS" effect.

      "It's still going on," he said. "I think Ferrari and McLaren are still betting on this effect."

      Since detailed technical inspections of the cars are not carried out during the tests, so far there is no question that someone is going to file an official protest with the FIA about the inconsistency of this approach with the requirements of the regulations. But it is logical to assume that discussions on this topic will resume in Australia before the first race of the season.

      When Pierre Vache was asked if such discussions would continue at an early stage of the championship, he confidently stated: "They will continue. It's quite clearly visible."