The championship leaders, McLaren, found themselves under the spotlight after video footage showed their rear wing flexing at high speeds during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, sparking speculation about a possible ‘mini-DRS’ drag reduction effect. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won the race, but the focus quickly shifted to the legality of the team’s wing.
Following discussions with the FIA, McLaren agreed to modify the wing, which had passed all required tests but wouldn’t have been used in Singapore due to the nature of the circuit. McLaren boss Andrea Stella dismissed the controversy as a “red herring,” suggesting the issue was more of a distraction for rival teams than a genuine concern.
“For us, making changes is pretty much transparent, so we may as well do it,” Stella said ahead of the Singapore GP. “It won’t be a big consequence from a performance point of view.”
Stella, speaking at the Marina Bay circuit, saw the scrutiny as a positive sign. “Personally, as the principal of McLaren, I find that so much attention on our rear wing is just good news because it means that opponents are not focusing on themselves,” he said. “Formula 1 is such a marginal game, it’s so complicated… when I see that there’s so much attention from other teams, it means that they will be doing work, they will be doing analysis, they will be talking to the FIA.”
Stella suggested that rival teams were wasting valuable resources. “There’s limited time and limited energy. They’re using this time and energy to chase something that I think is a red herring. So for me as McLaren, that’s just good news.”
Norris Dominates in Singapore as McLaren Extends Championship Lead
McLaren’s Lando Norris delivered a commanding performance in Singapore, winning from pole position with a 20.945-second lead over Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen. Norris’ victory further solidified McLaren’s dominance, stretching their lead in the F1 constructors’ championship to 41 points over Red Bull.
Oscar Piastri, starting from fifth, secured a third-place finish, contributing valuable points to McLaren’s growing championship advantage. Despite the controversies surrounding their rear wing, the team’s on-track performance has continued to shine.
“Definitely the drivers’ championship is still on, the mission is on,” Stella stated confidently after the race, signaling McLaren’s commitment to fighting for both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles as the season progresses.
As McLaren focuses on maintaining their performance, Stella’s comments reflect the team’s strategy of staying unfazed by external distractions and keeping their sights firmly set on the championship battle ahead.
