Could the flexible front wing be the secret to McLaren’s success? Red Bull advisor, Helmut Marko, certainly thinks so. He’s urging the FIA to scrutinize this component on the MCL38, along with the front wings of the Mercedes cars. Marko’s comments come in the wake of Red Bull’s disappointing qualifying session in Monza.
Mercedes introduced the so-called flexi-wing back in 2022, but it seems to be this year that they’re truly reaping the benefits of the flexible front wing. The German racing team has already claimed victory three times in the 2024 season. McLaren also employs this flexi-wing on the MCL38, and it’s proving to be a great success. The British team is steadily closing the gap on world champion Red Bull in the constructors’ championship, reducing the difference to a mere thirty points.
Red Bull Team Boss Acknowledges Rivals’ Advantage
Christian Horner, the team boss of Red Bull, has previously admitted that his team’s rivals have found greater advantages with a different front wing concept. “I think the front wing is an important area where others have found performance,” Horner told Motorsport.com. “The way the front wings are used is very different. If you look at the angle of the front wings of McLaren and Mercedes, they are very different. Very different from the rest of the group.”
Advisor Helmut Marko Demands Investigation
Advisor Helmut Marko also noticed the divergent front wings. The Austrian demands an investigation into these parts. “The front wing of McLaren and Mercedes must be analyzed,” says the Austrian. Whether the FIA will respond to Marko’s call is still unclear. Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez will start from the seventh and eighth starting positions respectively during the race in Monza. The McLarens are on the first starting row.
