Lewis Hamilton has claimed that Formula 1 is "going in the wrong direction" with the FIA's clampdown on flexible front wings from this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.
The teams have assembled in Barcelona with attention on how a new technical directive restricting front wing flexing under load will impact the competitive situation.
Having introduced more stringent rear wing tests in March, the FIA has updated the guidelines to reduce the tolerance on how much front wings can vertically deflect.
McLaren is believed to have been the team that exploited the previous rules the most.
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Hamilton explained that flexible wings had provided benefits when teams adapted to them, noting his own experience at Mercedes. "The flexi-wings, it was a positive when it came about. Some teams were quick to adapt it, some teams were very slow to adapt it," Hamilton told media including Motorsport Week.
"When I was at Mercedes and we got it last year around this time it was a positive for us.
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Hamilton described the flexible wings as serving a specific purpose within Formula 1's current technical framework.
"Ultimately the flexi wings was a band-aid for poorly designed technical regulations, I would say," the Briton elaborated.
He acknowledged the engineering challenges teams face in achieving proper car balance.
"It's still not that easy to get the load that you need on the front end in a low-speed, or just rely solely on mechanical grip.
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This weekend sees new technical directives in place
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"This weekend is going to be interesting because we've got less flex with the front wing, so you have a lot of front end in the high-speed and less in the low."
Hamilton expressed uncertainty about which teams will be most affected by the new restrictions, despite suggestions from others in the paddock.
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His former Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff indicated Ferrari has the most to gain under the revised guidelines as it had been the most "conservative" with flexible wings.
"I don't know where it's coming from, I don't know what gives him that impression," Hamilton retorted.
Ferrari are looking for a good weekend in Spain
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"I mean, I hope he's right, but I have zero clue who it's going to affect and who it's not."
The British driver acknowledged that different teams had varying approaches to flexible wing implementation, with some doing "a better job than others".
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