McLaren Joins Red Bull and Ferrari in Bringing Upside-Down Rear Wing to Austria

McLaren will trial its own version of the upside-down rear wing during practice for this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, becoming the third team to adopt the unconventional aerodynamic solution. The Woking squad's iteration of the so-called "Macarena wing" arrives as part of a broader upgrade push at the Red Bull Ring, where rivals are also bringing significant new parts.

Why it matters:

The rotating rear wing concept has emerged as one of the defining technical trends of the 2026 season. By inverting the top flap into a straights-only position, teams can slash drag and boost top speed while retaining conventional downforce for corners. With Ferrari, Red Bull, and now McLaren all pursuing the solution, the design is rapidly shifting from an oddity to a must-have development item.

The details:

• Ferrari caught the paddock off guard when it first unveiled the concept during pre-season testing in Bahrain, though the Scuderia waited until the Miami Grand Prix to race it. Red Bull introduced its own interpretation in Miami.
• McLaren will run its rotating rear wing during Friday practice sessions in Austria, gathering data ahead of a potential race-weekend introduction.
• Mechanically, the wing's top flap rotates into an upside-down profile on straights to reduce aerodynamic drag, then returns to a standard loaded configuration for high-downforce corners.
• The wing forms just one element of McLaren's Austria package. Red Bull is also debuting its second major upgrade of the year, while Ferrari is expected to introduce internal combustion engine improvements.

What's next:

If Friday's data supports the simulations, expect McLaren to commit to the design for qualifying and the race. The growing consensus around the "Macarena wing" could also pressure other front-runners to fast-track their own versions before the summer swing deepens. In a season where development windows are tight, innovations like this are quickly separating the contenders from the also-rans.