McLaren trials upside-down rear wing in Austria as title rivals close in

McLaren has become the third Formula 1 team to test an upside-down rear wing concept, rolling out the experimental design during Friday free practice at the Austrian Grand Prix. The Woking outfit follows Ferrari and Red Bull in exploring a configuration that rotates the wing 180 degrees when straight-line mode is engaged.

Ferrari first drew attention to the concept during winter testing, when its inverted rear wing design caught rivals off guard. Red Bull subsequently produced its own interpretation at the Miami Grand Prix, though that version operated differently. McLaren’s take is described internally as an “experimental rear wing” and is understood to follow the same broad principle.

The team confirmed the plan in its Austrian Grand Prix preview, noting it would also introduce minor detail refinements around the MCL40’s rear corners. “We’re always looking to make refinements that add performance and lap time to the car,” said McLaren technical director Neil Houldey. “While the overall package is lighter than some of our recent updates, these developments are all part of our season-long development pathway, and we’re continuing to look for every lap time opportunity wherever we can.”

The wing is classified as a test item and is not expected to race in Austria. Engineers will analyse data gathered across Friday’s sessions before deciding whether to develop the concept further. A refined version could reappear later in the season as a performance upgrade.

The timing reflects McLaren’s broader push to close the gap on championship leader Mercedes. Larger upgrade packages introduced in Miami and Canada have already helped the team make inroads, but Ferrari has also emerged as a serious contender following its own development push. Both McLaren team principal Andrea Stella and reigning world champion Lando Norris have publicly identified the Ferrari SF-26 as the strongest chassis in the field at present, adding urgency to McLaren’s search for additional performance.