McLaren Tests Inverted Rear Wing During Austrian Grand Prix Practice

The McLaren Formula 1 team is the latest to trial an inverted rear‑wing concept at the Austrian Grand Prix, following similar experiments by Ferrari and Red Bull.

Ferrari introduced a rear wing that rotated 180 degrees during straight‑line mode in winter testing, prompting rivals to consider their own versions. Red Bull later ran its own inverted rear wing at the Miami Grand Prix, though it operated differently.

McLaren unveiled an “experimental rear wing” in the Friday practice session in Austria, which appears to be an upside‑down design.

“As part of this continued momentum, the team will deliver minor detail refinements on the MCL40’s rear corners. In addition, we will test an experimental rear wing throughout Friday’s free practice sessions,” the team said in its Austria preview.

The new wing is being evaluated only during Friday practice and is not expected to appear in qualifying or the race. After analysis at the factory, the concept—or a variant—could return later in the season as a performance upgrade.

Lewis Hamilton broke a streak of consecutive Mercedes victories with his maiden Ferrari GP win in Barcelona.

Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

“We’re always looking to make refinements that add performance and lap time to the car,” McLaren technical director Neil Houldey said. “For this event, we’ve focused on minor detail updates around the car’s rear corners, as well as an experimental rear wing that will run throughout Friday’s sessions. While the overall package is lighter than some of our recent updates, these developments are all part of our season‑long development pathway, and we’re continuing to look for every lap‑time opportunity wherever we can.”

Recent upgrades, notably larger packages introduced in Miami and Canada, have helped McLaren close the gap to championship leader Mercedes. Ferrari’s own developments have also elevated its competitiveness, with team principal Andrea Stella and driver Lando Norris praising the SF‑26 as the current benchmark chassis in Formula 1.

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