Whiting expects 2018 ban on shark fins, T-wings

One of the unintended consequences of F1’s 2017 rules overhaul has been the return of shark fins to help direct airflow to the rear wing. Furthermore, some teams are running high T-wings for added downforce.

But the looks of the cars has not gone down well with fans and some within the sport, with F1’s new sporting chief Ross Brawn especially unhappy.

Speaking ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, Whiting said the response was likely to prompt talks to get the rules rewritten to outlaw them – even though he thought they did not look too bad.

“Next year I think there is quite a good chance that that [ban] will be done because quite a few people feel that they are a bit of an unsightly thing,” said Whiting.

“I personally don’t have anything against them, but it was something that was always going to be possible. I think the reaction of everybody probably wasn’t expected.”

Flexibility checks

Whiting also said that the FIA would be checking the T-wings in Melbourne to ensure they passed flexibility tests.

The T-wings' strength became a talking point after pictures emerged from testing of some of them bending over thanks to high cornering forces.

Haas team principal Gunther Steiner, whose car was featured in some of these pictures, said his outfit had not changed it design yet.

“Nope, not yet – because it seems to be working even if it bends,” he said. “We analysed it, and maybe we’ll do something later on, but we haven’t done anything for it for here.”