McLaren offer to make ‘minor adjustments’ to rear wing after conversations with FIA

McLaren have confirmed that they have “proactively offered” to make some “minor adjustments” to their rear wing after conversations with the FIA, though the team clarified that the wing was compliant with the regulations last time out in Azerbaijan.

The wings on the MCL38 have sparked discussion during recent weeks, with the rear wing’s level of flexing in Baku attracting attention from the squad's rivals.

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This led to the topic being raised during press conferences ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, where Oscar Piastri stated that the rear wing is “certainly not the magic ticket or magic bullet for why we're competitive. But it's legal.”

In a statement released prior to second practice at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, McLaren reiterated the legality of the wing but explained that they would make some adjustments to the feature.

“Whilst our Baku rear wing complies with the regulations and passes all FIA deflection tests, McLaren have proactively offered to make some minor adjustments to the wing following our conversations with the FIA,” the team said.

“We would also expect the FIA to have similar conversations with other teams in relation to the compliance of their rear wings.”

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - SEPTEMBER 15: Race winner Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren — Piastri took victory for McLaren in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Speaking further on the scrutiny that the rear wing had faced recently during Thursday’s press conference, Piastri suggested that such attention is “natural” when a team is performing at a high level.

“I think you look at any car that's been competitive and it always gets scrutinised to the highest level,” the Australian said. “You look at the Mercedes a few years ago with their rear wing and the infamous 50K touch. You look at a lot of the teams trying to work out Red Bull's DRS effect for the last couple of years.

“We've seen flexi front wings in the past and all sorts, so I think, naturally, there's going to be scrutiny of just people curious to know why your car is competitive. So, I certainly don't think it's personal to us.

“All the other teams are trying to find, including ourselves – we're not just thinking that we're the best out there and we don't need to learn anything from anyone else. We're always looking at the other teams as well.

“So I think it's only natural and when you're at the front and when you have a car within a second of you for 30 laps and the rear wing camera on there for 30 laps, then naturally people are going to notice it more too.”