F1 News
Could Red Bull flip the script thanks to changes to McLaren's rear wing?
Ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, McLaren were asked to change their rear wing, as a so-called 'mini DRS' was found in Azerbaijan. According to the former driver of the Woking-based team, Juan Pablo Montoya, that could become a game changer this season for several reasons.
Following Oscar Piastri's victory in Baku, it was found out that McLaren not only have flexible front wings, but also the same effect could be seen on their rear wings as well. While the 'mini DRS' had to be removed, there is currently no verdict on the front wings not only McLaren, but also Mercedes use.
Why changes to the rear wing can hurt McLaren?
According to Montoya however, changing the rear wing could already cause problems for the British team. "So the way the wings were working, I think they were skipping the balance of the car. I think the balance of the car is going to go away a little bit, because now the front wing keeps giving up and the rear one doesn't. Now, when you go into the high speed corners, the aero balance is going to start shifting back, because now the rear wing is not losing the performance," the Colombian told Gambling Zone.
He continued: "McLaren’s speed is not astonishing, but it's their consistency and how well they look after the tyres." As a result, the former driver believes McLaren's constructors' title is not a foregone conclusion, and he does see Red Bull have to chance to retake the lead. "If the Red Bull gets fixed, and I think there's a package coming for the US Grand Prix and if all of a sudden Perez starts beating Oscar [Piastri] and Max returns to winning races the Constructors’ title can flip back again in a heartbeat," he declared.
With six Grands Prix and three Sprints to go, McLaren lead the constructors' standings ahead of Red Bull Racing by 41 points, however, Lando Norris is the chaser for the drivers' title. At the moment, Max Verstappen still has a 52-point lead ahead of the Briton entering the final two tripleheaders of the 2024 season.
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