After tweaking its ‘mini-DRS’ rear wing, McLaren has flagged other teams to the FIA ​​that should “fix their own issues”, while calling for more “respect” for the governing body.

F1’s long-running flex wing saga resumed after the Azerbaijan GP after on-board footage of race winner Oscar Piastri’s McLaren showed the upper and lower elements of the rear wing separating slightly on the straight , reducing drag and increasing straight-line speed. After rival complaints and discussions with the FIA, McLaren “proactively” proposed changes to its rear wing.

McLaren sees other teams needing to ‘solve their own problems’

At the Singapore GP, the media asked McLaren team principal Andrea Stella why McLaren took it upon itself to change the design of its rear wing. As part of his explanation, Stella said McLaren had carried out “due diligence” and passed it on to the FIA ​​regarding certain rivals they believe deserve special attention.

“We want to have a proactive conversation with the FIA, because it seems like this story is gaining momentum,” Stella said.

“For us, making changes is pretty transparent, so we might as well do it. This will not have a big impact on our performance.

“It also gave us an opportunity to remind the FIA ​​that, you know, we also do due diligence in terms of studying other people. We don’t want to spend so much energy and time on journalists and try to create big stories We just told the FIA ​​what we think is happening.

“And we have confidence, and we are confident that they will talk to other teams and think and make sure they solve their own problems, which may be less visible, but they certainly exist.”

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Expanding on McLaren’s perception of the FIA, Stella called for “a little more respect” from the governing body, highlighting the knowledge demonstrated by their technical department.

Asked to shed light on other teams’ “issues” he wants the FIA ​​to address, Stella replied: “I won’t be specific, because I will be disclosing information that a team might fall into a confidential range .

“For some reason, this space seems to have become something that dominates Formula 1. There are many ways in which other cars exploit aerodynamic pressure on surfaces. In fact, from our analysis, some of between them are simply much more effective.

“But we trust the FIA. They are very technically competent people. To be honest, when we talk to them, not only do we see that they understand the mechanism, but they also understand what’s going on, in this case, with our competitors.

“And they still seem to be completely equipped to understand whether certain tests are suitable to limit certain, let’s say, mechanisms or ways of using, as I said, aerodynamic pressure.

“So I think we are in good hands from a political point of view with the FIA. And I think we should have, from all parties, from the teams, from the journalists, from everyone, a little more respect for the FIA ​​and its technical department, because they do a very good job. It’s not a simple job and sometimes we should praise what they do and I don’t think that’s done a lot.

McLaren has moved to the top of the 2024 F1 Constructors’ Championship standings with six rounds remaining, 41 points ahead of Red Bull.

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