Flexi-wing spotlight claims its first victim in China.

      "We are not worried about the legality of our wing."

      The flexi-wings controversy in Shanghai has resulted in a hefty fine of 50,000 euros for Williams. However, the team maintains that they have acted appropriately, particularly regarding the operation of a rear wing that bends excessively. This issue is particularly relevant currently, with teams like McLaren and others under scrutiny from the FIA, aided by high-definition cameras that were required during Friday’s free practice.

      Notably, McLaren seems to have avoided increased scrutiny and more stringent flex tests without any adjustments to their setup. Lando Norris stated, "It’s not aimed at us; it seems targeted at other teams." Reports indicate that Alpine and Haas were required to modify their rear wings for the race in China.

      Williams, on the other hand, faced issues due to their failure to meet the deadline for submitting the video footage from the FIA cameras. The stewards determined that the team believed the cameras would come with SD cards supplied by the FIA without confirming this.

      In their own statement, Williams clarified, "To ensure transparency, we submitted all requested footage in Melbourne without any issues and will continue to support the FIA by providing all necessary footage promptly moving forward. We are not worried about the legality of our wing. It is the same wing we used in Melbourne, it complies fully, and we did not need to make any modifications following the new technical directive."

      Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz, the new addition from Ferrari, is facing challenges as he adjusts to his new car and aims to feel more comfortable in the cockpit. He remarked, "I'm finding it very difficult to achieve balance, and the seat feels strange, which we need to look into." He acknowledged, "Ultimately, it all comes down to not feeling entirely at home in the car. I still have much to learn and understand about it, and I believe that with more driving experience, things will improve."

      Earlier in Shanghai, Lewis Hamilton, Sainz’s successor at Ferrari, criticized those who questioned his adaptation to a new team. "We live in such a strange time in the world," said the seven-time world champion. "People seem eager to be negative at every opportunity, even about the tiniest things."