FIA downplays the controversy surrounding Mercedes' 'two-phase' wing.

      "It was not intentional and definitely not an advantage."

      The FIA has sought to mitigate the controversy surrounding Mercedes' so-called "two-phase" front wing, stating that the matter is minor and does not require formal action. The system came under scrutiny after the Chinese GP when Ferrari questioned whether the switch between straight-line and cornering modes occurred in two stages rather than one continuous action. Mercedes made subsequent adjustments before Suzuka, with drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli both asserting that the behavior was unintentional and provided no advantage. "It was unintentional and certainly not an advantage. In fact, it was a problem," Russell explained, mentioning that the wing could still be open while braking. Antonelli concurred, labeling it "a malfunction that actually caused us problems, not advantages."

      Now, FIA single-seater technical director Nikolas Tombazis has supported this perspective. "For minor inconsistencies, we don’t immediately issue orders to the stewards," he told Italy’s Formula Passion. "In the case of the Mercedes wing, it did not provide an advantage and was not intentional. It was a mechanical issue, similar to those faced by other teams."

      Tombazis stated that the FIA prefers to address such issues directly with teams to prevent unnecessary escalation. "If we are confident that there is no intent, we resolve these issues in collaboration with the teams, without involving the stewards, to avoid setting precedents for minor matters." He also indicated that the reaction from the paddock was exaggerated. "Since it was visible, everyone immediately noticed it, and there was a lot of commotion, but it wasn’t worth the commotion."