McLaren’s Rear Wing Controversy and the Tight Championship Race

McLaren has overtaken Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship, prompting Red Bull to push the FIA to scrutinize McLaren’s rear wing. This is a typical move among Constructors when they lose their lead in the Championship standings, but it highlights the intensity of the current competition. Although McLaren’s rear wing has already passed all FIA flexibility tests and complied with regulations, the complaints have led McLaren to make minor adjustments to the rear wing, which was seen flexing upwards on the straights during the last race in Azerbaijan. The specifics of these changes remain unknown, but all eyes will be on McLaren’s rear wing at this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.

It’s not just McLaren’s rear wing under scrutiny; the flexibility of both McLaren’s and Mercedes’ front wings has also drawn attention, not only from Red Bull but also from Ferrari. This raises the question: Is there a real issue with McLaren’s rear wing and the front wings of McLaren and Mercedes, or is it a matter of interpretation within the FIA’s rules and regulations? Constructors often push the boundaries, sometimes asking for forgiveness rather than permission.

As the championship battle heats up, with seven races and three Sprints remaining, tensions are high. Unlike last year, where Max Verstappen’s victory was a foregone conclusion, the 2024 Drivers’ Championship is still wide open. Aside from Verstappen, Lando Norris, Charles LeClerc, and Oscar Piastri are all in contention. Notably, Piastri has scored the most points of any driver in the last eight races.

Despite Norris’s roughest qualifying session of the season in Azerbaijan, he managed to climb 12 places to finish fourth, even overtaking Verstappen, who finished fifth. Statistically, Norris would need to finish more than eight points ahead of Verstappen in each of the remaining races to secure the World Championship. This also means that LeClerc and Piastri still have a shot at the title. While not all outcomes are probable, the championship race is shaping up to be a potential nail-biter, especially with Max Verstappen having such difficulties with his RB20 recently.

As Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari continue to vie for the Drivers’ Championship, they, along with Aston Martin, Mercedes, Alpine, Williams, and others, are bringing upgrades to Singapore. While some are significant, others are small tweaks. McLaren, however, is letting their FIA paperwork speak for the changes they are making, possibly due to the ongoing chatter about their rear wing. This cautious and calculated approach to upgrades may be the winning mentality McLaren needs this season. With so much still on the line, and Constructors beginning to focus on the 2025 season, no team is giving up on 2024—every point counts. Expect more upgrades at the Circuit of the Americas, where the battle will continue.