McLaren F1’s latest ‘Mini DRS’ technology has stirred intrigue across the paddock, promising undisclosed future developments.
McLaren F1’s CEO, Andrea Stella, disclosed that the team plans to roll out additional upgrades to its Formula 1 car, aiming to clinch both championships in 2024.
The Woking-based team moved to the top of the constructors’ standings last weekend in Baku, fueled by Oscar Piastri’s win and Lando Norris’s climb to fourth place.
Since introducing updates after the season resumed last month, McLaren has overtaken its rivals, achieving two wins and a double podium.
However, even after edging out a struggling Red Bull team by 20 points in the standings, McLaren is not resting on its laurels with seven rounds remaining.
Instead, Stella revealed that further developments are on the horizon for the MCL38, intended to also assist Lando Norris in closing a 59-point gap to Max Verstappen.
“We are certainly working on enhancements for this season,” Stella disclosed.
“We are finalizing them.”
“I don’t want to say too much about what and when, but we have a plan to make the car faster.”
“We’ll see if we can achieve it, as I think we’ve seen that at this level of development, it’s not an easy task to change the car’s specifications and make it perform as anticipated in our development tools.”
“But that’s also why we took a bit more time to try to ensure that what we bring to the track is successful.”
“So, yes, I can confirm that we have things coming for the upcoming races, and I’ll let the FIA document surprise you when it is released.”
Meanwhile, Red Bull Racing has already announced a new package for Austin designed to address the current weaknesses and balance of the RB20.
A mini DRS effect raises questions in the paddock
The legality of McLaren F1’s rear wing design was questioned at the end of the last Grand Prix.
Red Bull had previously pointed out the suspect flexibility of the Papaya’s front wing. However, the FIA has given its green light, along with Mercedes FIA, at least until the end of the season, to see if further flexibility tests can be introduced.
But now, after the Azerbaijan GP, detailed images of McLaren’s rear wing are circulating on social media.
The images show that when the McLaren is at high speed, with DRS not deployed, the rear wing reveals two visible gaps at the extreme edges. With these two small holes forming between the two planes of the rear wing, a phenomenon described as “mini DRS” occurs, creating less air resistance (see photo below). A subtle effect, but every little helps in F1!
It is unclear how long the Baku wing has been on the car, but McLaren’s boss, Andrea Stella, had stated in Zandvoort that the car showed an improvement in this area.
“This rear wing should give us a bit more downforce, with similar drag,” he had said at the time. “So it should help us move forward a bit more.”
It remains to be seen if the FIA will investigate this phenomenon.
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McLaren Unveils Upgrades – ‘Mini DRS’ Stirs Debate McLaren Unveils Upgrades – ‘Mini DRS’ Stirs Debate
