McLaren "disappointed" not to pick up rotating rear wing as quickly as Ferrari
McLaren's technical director Neil Houldey expressed disappointment that the team was slower than Ferrari and Red Bull to adopt an innovative rotating rear wing design. The team is currently refining its own version of the aerodynamic component for implementation following the summer break.
Why it matters
This highlights the intense competitive nature of Formula 1 engineering, where small aerodynamic innovations can significantly impact race performance and championship standings.
McLaren Formula 1 tech director Neil Houldey admits the squad was "disappointed" not to pick up on the upside down rear wing concept as quickly as pioneering Ferrari, as the team continues developing its own version for adoption after the summer break.
Innovation comes in all shapes and sizes, as F1 teams sink their teeth into a brand-new rulebook in 2026. Some design interpretations are more visible than others, so when Ferrari debuted a striking rear wing in Bahrain testing that rotated 180 degrees between corner mode and straight mode, it captured the imagination – not just of fans, but also of rival designers who then had to go back to the drawing board to figure out whether or not they had missed a trick to reduce straight line drag.
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