F1 news: McLaren’s rear wing is the sport’s latest focal point

McLaren’s stunning rise to the top of the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship remains the talk of the paddock ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. Having started the 2023 season from the back of the field, “just fighting for points”, as Lando Norris told me before last season’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the team leads Red Bull by 20 points heading into the home straight, with Norris closing in on Max Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship.

But Formula 1 wouldn’t be complete without a little controversy over the rules.

Earlier in the season, McLaren’s front wing was called into question by their rivals, including Mercedes, when video footage from the Italian Grand Prix showed the front wing “flexing” under aerodynamic loads. Rivals raised concerns about the flexible front wing and whether it met FIA regulations, but the sporting governing body issued a statement ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix stating that “all front wings currently comply with the 2024 regulations”, resolving that issue for now.

However, a new problem has emerged, specifically the rear wing of McLaren’s MCL38. After Oscar Piastri’s thrilling win in Baku, astute observers noticed on video footage how the MCL38’s rear wing would also flex under aerodynamic loads, causing it to drop and act as what some have called a “mini DRS”. This animation of Just Formulacar provides a good picture of this function:

That rear wing was a topic of discussion during Thursday’s media day. The FIA ​​issued another statement on Thursday about the McLaren’s rear wing, noting that the team had passed all tests conducted by the sport’s governing body. An FIA spokesperson told BBC Sport that they were “reviewing data and any additional evidence emerging from the Baku GP and considering possible mitigating measures for future implementation.”

A McLaren spokesperson also said BBC Sport that the MCL38 “is legal under all deflection tests and meets all regulations.”

However, both Red Bull drivers voiced their own concerns about the legality of the MCL38 in Singapore on Thursday. Speaking to media in Singapore, Sergio Perez called the MCL38 an “illegal” car. “It’s clear that it’s outside the regulations,” Perez said. “It’s an illegal car. But it looks like it’s allowed. I’m very surprised.”

During the FIA ​​press conference on Thursday, Verstappen was asked about McLaren’s rear wing and he gave this view.

“I’ve seen the footage. That’s the beauty of social media, right? Everyone has the video ready. And then of course there’s a lot of discussion about it. I mean, of course it’s quite clear that it’s moving, it’s going at speed. It might be smart, it might not be smart, but in the end it’s up to the FIA ​​to decide whether it’s legal or not? Baku is of course not the first time it’s been used, so there were other circuits as well,” Verstappen said. “I think it’s important to come up with a clarification. But that’s not only for the rear wing, but also for the front wing. What’s allowed? How much can it flex? All that kind of stuff, right? So we just have to wait and see, yeah from our side.”

Piastri was led by the brilliant Ian Parkes of The New York Times on Thursday, declaring the part “legal” in his eyes, and those of the FIA. “To be honest, the first time I knew that was last week at the same time as everyone else. And it’s not a grey area. It’s tested every week. It’s legal,” Piastri said at the FIA ​​press conference. “They have a lot of different tests now for the rear wings. So yeah, I honestly didn’t even know it was doing that until three days ago. So yeah, in sport, of course, you find every bit of performance you can without breaking the rules. And you know, I feel like that’s what we’re doing. And that’s what you have to do to be a championship-winning car and a championship-winning team.”

While the FIA’s stance that the rear wing is legal stands for now, this debate is yet another reminder of the underlying nature of F1. Certainly, a driver’s skill, willpower and determination play a huge part in determining winners and losers on the track. But while the sport depends on the drivers in the box, it is also a technical issue that must be solved by the men and women working in the factory.

And wherever there are rules and regulations to follow, there are also loopholes to be found and boundaries to be pushed.

After this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, there is a three-week gap until the United States Grand Prix in Austin. We’ll see if the FIA ​​provides more clarity on the issue in that time, or if McLaren’s nine rivals introduce similar rear wings in Texas.