McLaren announced it will fit an experimental ‘upside‑down’ rear wing on its car for the Austrian Grand Prix, running the component during Friday’s free‑practice sessions. The move follows similar concepts unveiled by Ferrari earlier in the season and later copied by Red Bull, and marks McLaren’s first on‑track test of the design.
Ferrari first displayed the inverted wing in pre‑season testing at Bahrain, rotating the rear element so the top flap points downward when the car is in straight‑line mode. The team raced the part at the Miami Grand Prix, where Red Bull also ran its own version. McLaren chief designer Rob Marshall said the idea caught his eye in April and that, after confirming its legality, the team will evaluate it alongside the standard rear wing. He noted that while copying concepts does not always translate, F1 history shows successful transfers—citing the double‑diffuser era as an example.
Running the wing in practice will give McLaren data on any aerodynamic gain and inform whether the concept could be introduced in a race later this year. Because the part remains in an experimental phase, the team expects to compare lap times, tyre wear and down‑force balance against the conventional setup before deciding on a full‑season rollout.
