Lando Norris downplays FIA’s latest rear wing regulations, stating McLaren’s design is already compliant and hinting they could be even bolder.
Lando Norris made it clear in Shanghai this morning that the FIA’s latest rear wing regulation change isn’t aimed at McLaren F1 and won’t impact the team’s performance at this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.
Starting from the Chinese GP, the FIA is tightening its rear wing deflection tests to prevent teams from using wings that flex under high loads—reducing drag and boosting top speeds.
McLaren had previously been accused of using such a wing at last year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where its edges appeared to move on Baku’s long straights. The team later adjusted its design after discussions with the FIA.
This rule has remained a priority for the FIA. Initially, a stricter rear wing flex test was set to debut at the Spanish Grand Prix in June. However, following recent footage from onboard cameras in Melbourne, the FIA decided to introduce the update immediately.
Norris: “This Change Won’t Affect Us”
Fresh off his dominant season-opening win in Melbourne—where he pulled an 18-second gap at one point—Norris insists this new regulation isn’t about McLaren and won’t change anything for them.
“We don’t need to change anything. Ours is good. In fact, ours was probably too good, and honestly, we’re probably not even pushing the limits enough,” Norris told reporters.
“So no, if this technical directive had been in place last weekend, it wouldn’t have made a difference for us.”
He even suggested that McLaren might have been too conservative with its current rear wing design.
“This directive isn’t for us; it seems to be aimed at other teams. That probably means we should start pushing a bit more.”
Pushing for More Despite a Strong Start
Despite McLaren’s standout performance in Melbourne—where the MCL39 was nearly four-tenths of a second faster than the competition in qualifying—Norris still sees room for improvement.
“The car is fast, but it’s still extremely difficult to drive,” he admitted.
“In certain conditions, like in the rain, Max [Verstappen] was just as quick as us. In the dry, we had the edge. We want to make the car a little more predictable and comfortable.”
While McLaren is already in a strong position, Norris emphasized that he and teammate Oscar Piastri are working closely with the team to refine the car further.
“It’s a great car, I can’t complain. But between Oscar and me, we both have similar feedback, which gives the team a clear direction on what to improve. The car is great, but we always want more.”
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