McLaren has expressed its disappointment at not being able to adopt the concept of a rotating rear wing as quickly as Ferrari did. The team’s technical director, Neil Houldey, explained that they are working to develop their own version of this innovation, aiming to present it after the summer break.
The 2026 Formula 1 season has been presented as a challenge for innovation due to new regulations. After Ferrari showcased an innovative wing during testing in Bahrain, which rotated 180 degrees between corner and straight modes, other teams have had to reconsider their designs to reduce drag in a straight line.
Following Ferrari, Red Bull also introduced its own model, although with a different concept that required revisions after two incidents involving driver Max Verstappen in Austria and Silverstone. McLaren attempted to implement the rotating wing but had to make many adjustments to address the issues found during testing.
Houldey revealed that, upon seeing Ferrari test the wing during winter trials, the team realized they had missed an opportunity. ‘We realized there was an opportunity and we set to work,’ he commented. However, he noted that the project was not its initial priority, with other updates underway.
After additional testing in Hungary, McLaren hopes to present its rotating wing soon. Houldey emphasized that the team has found a functional concept with a reliable solution. However, the executive warned about the aerodynamic risks that this type of design entails.
With the intention of improving aerodynamic efficiency, McLaren is in search of a balance between speed and safety. ‘We are now trying to find a way to incorporate this concept into our new generation of wings, which should start to be seen in the upcoming races,’ concluded Houldey.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
