McLaren boss sends teasing message to Red Bull as ‘red herring’ masterplan becomes clear
McLaren and Red Bull are locked into a mighty battle in both World Championships.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes that rivals Red Bull and Ferrari have been ‘distracted’ by the MCL38 rear wing fiasco, labelling the FIA’s intervention as a ‘red herring’ and suggesting that the drama is a good thing for the Constructors’ Championship leaders.
Helmut Marko and Christian Horner kicked up a fuss about McLaren’s rear wing heading into the Singapore Grand Prix after footage emerged from the race in Azerbaijan showcasing significant flexion under load on race-winner Oscar Piastri’s car.
The FIA and McLaren were both clear that the rear wings on Piastri and Lando Norris’ cars were compliant with the sport’s technical regulations and passed all scrutineering checks in Baku, but to calm the cacophony of noise emanating from the paddock, Stella agreed to make changes.
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McLaren’s boss does not, however, believe that this will be a problem. “Well the effect is absolutely zero,” he told Sky Sports F1. “I think we saw it today. For us, it’s just good news that our competitors get distracted with this kind of thing because it means they don’t focus on themselves and for us it’s just an advantage.
“We are completely comfortable that this is a little bit of a red herring that someone is speaking up. The wing is legal. There’s no topic really. I think it’s just a story but it looks like everyone looks for some stories.
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“It’s good, it’s good for us. We keep focused on ourselves, feet on the ground, keep delivering upgrades and that’s what we do. We talk on the track.”
The FIA’s verdict did little to impact McLaren’s competitiveness in Singapore on Saturday. Lando Norris was untouchable at the top of the timing screens, converting promising practice sessions into pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
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Norris is in a strong headspace as he continues to track down Verstappen. When quizzed about the rear wing debacle, he said: “I’m very happy with the job the team is doing. Everything’s been tested, and everything’s legal. That’s what Formula One is about—exploring everything within the rules.
“We’ve cleared all the tests, and the FIA is happy. I’m proud of what the team is doing; they’re pushing the limits, and that’s what you’ve got to do if you want to fight at the top, especially against teams known for doing the same. We’ve not been in this position before, but now we are, and I’m very happy about it.”
