P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren’s rear wing continues to grab attention, especially following images from the Japanese Grand Prix.
The rear wings in Formula 1 have been a significant topic of discussion in the early races of the season due to concerns about the “mini DRS effect.” The FIA implemented stricter rear wing tests before the season began but had to issue an even more stringent technical directive following ongoing controversies. Initially, the rear wing opening was limited to 2 millimeters in the Australian Grand Prix, but teams still found ways to exploit it for an advantage. The rear wing opening was further reduced to 0.5 millimeters in China due to continued issues, though a slight discrepancy of 0.25 millimeters arose from the timing of the directive. While this discrepancy was resolved in Japan, some teams, including Haas and Alpine, had to adjust their rear wings to comply with the regulations. McLaren was also under scrutiny, with a suggestion that changes were necessary, although the exact details remain unclear. Despite passing technical inspections, images from Suzuka indicated potential flexibility issues with McLaren’s MCL39 rear wing when compared to Red Bull’s RB21.
