McLaren delays debut of its rotating rear wing despite successful test runs

Andrea Stella explained that McLaren’s rotating rear wing, a concept similar to Red Bull’s design, remains a complex undertaking that requires careful integration with the car’s Straight Line Mode. Initial testing in Austria was abandoned, and the wing was first run in practice on Lando Norris’s car at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Stella noted that the engineering team achieved reliable actuation timing and aerodynamic reattachment, despite regulatory limits.

He also highlighted that the wing’s performance cannot be fully validated in wind tunnels, making on-track data essential. While the device is ready, McLaren will wait for a suitable event before fielding it in competition. The delay is unrelated to Red Bull’s recent issues with its own pivoting wing.