McLaren expects the FIA to have talks with other Formula 1 teams over “the compliance of their rear wing” amid the news that it will make changes to its own design.
The Woking-based squad’s rear wing was thrust under the spotlight earlier this week as coverage showed some intriguing behaviour during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Oscar Piastri was able to utilise McLaren’s straight-line speed advantage over Ferrari to repel Charles Leclerc’s advances over several laps to bag the race win in Baku.
However, eagle-eyed observers spotted on the rear-facing onboard camera that the top element on Piastri’s rear wing was deflecting at high speed to open a slot gap.
This design trick – which has been branded a ‘mini DRS’ in the paddock – would have helped to reduce drag and hand McLaren a top-speed boost over the competition.
But while McLaren remained adamant that it was legal as the rear wing has passed all static load tests, rival F1 squads pushed the FIA to acquire clearer clarification.
READ MORE: Oscar Piastri denies McLaren F1 rear wing trick the ‘magic bullet’
The FIA revealed it planned to launch a review into the data to see whether the part was legal and it has since decided that McLaren must adopt tweaks to the design.
McLaren, though, has insisted that it was willing to make changes at the FIA’s demand and has called on the governing body to now assess other team’s components.
“Whilst our Baku rear wing complies with the regulations and passes all FIA deflection tests, McLaren have proactively offered to make some minor adjustments to the wing following our conversations with the FIA,” McLaren said. “We would expect the FIA to have similar conversations with other teams in relation to the compliance of their rear wings.”
McLaren insists other F1 teams also testing the limits
Prior to the revelation that it would be made to conduct alterations, McLaren Chief Designer Rob Marshall claimed that it wasn’t the sole team to be testing the limits.
“I wouldn’t say they’re exploiting it less than McLaren. I wouldn’t say McLaren are exploiting it,” Marshall told media including Motorsport Week in Singapore.
“I would say that everyone’s approaching their wing design in the way they think [is best].
“But you look at them… I mean obviously for whatever reason we are talking about ours at the moment.
“But I mean everyone can see everyone else’s as well. I don’t think we are the only people under scrutiny.”
Rival F1 complaints down to McLaren success
Marshall also believes that the opposition ganging up on McLaren has emanated from the team having developed into a position where it is now the benchmark in F1.
“It’s very flattering but obviously the nearer the front you are, the more scrutiny you come under,” he said.
“I mean all teams scrutinise their own cars as well as other people’s.
“We scrutinise our car, we work with the FIA to understand the grey areas of whatever element the car is and move forward accordingly really.”
Asked how he considered rival teams’ complaints, Marshall responded: “I don’t know really. They’ve all got their opinions.
“We work with the FIA to establish the legality of our car. As long as the FIA are happy, that’s the only opinion we need to worry about.”
