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McLaren turned down stricter flexi tests

McLaren was against stricter flexi wing tests © Sutton Images

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McLaren turned down stricter flexible wing tests, according to its rivals Ferrari and Red Bull.

McLaren was among the teams that demanded clarity over the flexible wing tests after it was suspected that both Red Bull and Ferrari had found a loophole in the rules. But technical bosses Adrian Newey and Aldo Costa told reporters at Monza that they were ready to agree to an even more stringent flexibility test, and it was McLaren that turned it down.

"We are also happy to further increase the stiffness if we want a front wing that is double the stiffness," Ferrari's Costa said. "It was discussed in the Technical Working Group to have, instead of 10 millimetres deflection, a five millimetre deflection but also engineers who were at this table they didn't accept to go for a five millimetre deflection," he said referring to McLaren's engineering director Paddy Lowe.

"I think it was Paddy who suggested [the test stay at] 10mm," said Red Bull's Newey.

To which Lowe replied: "Yes, it was. Which it still is. It is still 10 millimetres."

Costa admitted he has been frustrated by the entire saga.

"For me it was already clear before all this saga," he said. "I don't know why this saga has been created. We disagreed about the comments that we heard. Okay, now we have got a slightly stiffer, let's say, front wing test because the references are from the reference plain and not anymore from the nose. We have got a more severe test on the front floor. We have done the modifications on the front floor that were required by the new test. But we didn't understand why this saga started, so we are still happy about what has been changed.

Newey agreed: "The test has been as it has been for several years and suddenly there is a load of excitement."

All three teams have admitted they had to make changes to the floor of their cars for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.