Source:REUTERS/Hannah McKay
[Saba Sports News] In recent F1 events, McLaren’s flexible rear wing design has sparked controversy. During last week’s F1 Baku race, McLaren’s MCL38 rear wing flaps exhibited some deformation without DRS activation, suggesting a high degree of flexibility in its design. Red Bull Racing and Ferrari expressed dissatisfaction with McLaren’s rear wing design, claiming it exceeded regulatory limits and filed a complaint with the FIA. In response, FIA technical delegate Joe Bauer clarified in an interview that McLaren’s car passed all body deformation tests and that its design complies with regulatory requirements. This means that despite the controversy and doubts raised, McLaren’s rear wing design is technically compliant. Traditionally, F1 rear wing designs tend to pursue extreme rigidity and efficiency, with carbon fiber being the preferred material due to its lightweight and high strength. However, McLaren has further explored this foundation by cleverly combining carbon fiber with vinyl ester resin as a composite material. This innovation reflects McLaren’s deep understanding of materials science and serves as a lesson for other F1 teams.