After the incredible performances of both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the Baku Grand Prix, multiple teams have started to look more into why the papaya cars are so much faster than everyone else. When Charles Leclerc was left in the dust even when he was using DRS, people started to look more closely at the McLaren cars!
Why Were The McLaren Cars So Fast?
During the race, multiple cameras picked up on something strange on the McLaren cars. When they were driving on the straights and reached their top speed, the McLaren’s rear wing did something unique. The load on the wing was so heavy, that it started to bend. However, it bent so much that it created a gap between the static part of the spoiler and the DRS part. The gap made sure that these cars had less drag. Making them faster on the straights than a Ferrari with DNS Enabled!
People are saying it goes against the spirit of the sport
Within Formula One, the teams interpret the rules and design the car to certain specifications. When the cars are designed and developed, the FIA will perform tests to ensure each component is within regulations.
Even though McLaren’s rear wings pass these tests, they still act differently under high loads during the race. Technically is not cheating, however, other teams are at a disadvantage if they don’t use the same designs. However, earlier this month, the FIA decided that they weren’t going to launch any other investigations. The decision was made after RedBull and Ferrari complained about the front “flexwing” on Mercedes and McLaren cars!
Other Teams Are Complaining About These Parts
When the information about the flexing rear wing was published, multiple other teams were upset. They tagged the FIA and McLaren in these posts on Twitter. However, if the statement of the FIA earlier this month was true, other teams can also exploit this loophole! This would be beneficial for teams like Red Bull who are still bringing in new upgrades this season.
