Helmut Marko calls for second FIA investigation into McLaren at Singapore Grand Prix
McLaren were dealt a significant blow at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Helmut Marko has confirmed that Red Bull will turn their attention to McLaren’s front wing after ‘three complaints’ led to the FIA outlawing the current Constructors’ Championship leaders’ rear wing at the Singapore Grand Prix.
In the aftermath of Oscar Piastri’s impressive Azerbaijan Grand Prix victory last weekend, onboard footage circulated around social media showing the rear wing of the MCL38 flexing towards the endplate area. This created a ‘mini-DRS’ effect, allegedly giving McLaren a significant speed advantage.
As a result of the clear evidence, Red Bull lodged a protest and according to an Autosport report, Zak Brown’s outfit have now been instructed by the FIA that they are no longer allowed to run their current rear-wing design.
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Reacting to the news, Marko said: "Three times we protested against McLaren's rear wing. Today the FIA made a very correct decision. McLaren's rear wing is not allowed. Now it's time to look at their front wing."
The Austrian advisor had previously been extremely vocal in his opposition to the design, which was labelled as “controversial” by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on Thursday. "It bends and there is a time gain,” he told Motorsport-Total in Singapore.
"The regulations say that the wing must not be built in such a way that it bends while driving. Scrutineering is one thing, they passed it. But what happens in the race is a different story.
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“There is actually no grey area. It says exactly [in the regulations] that it must not change aerodynamically while driving. So either you do a different test method or you change the regulations or you ban this wing."
McLaren won’t have to make any immediate changes to the MCL38 after bringing a different rear wing to the Singapore GP to take care of the circuit’s high-downforce needs. However, when the field arrives in Austin after the lengthy upcoming break, Andrea Stella’s team will need a new solution.
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Red Bull, meanwhile, are confident that the United States Grand Prix could be the turning point that they need. "Small adaptations are possible in Singapore,” Marko continued, assessing his team’s progress.
“We have to bring the car and the tyre set-up into the small performance window. If we can do that, we'll be back in the running. We still have to get through Singapore, but I'm very confident again for Austin."
