McLaren Trials Experimental Upside-Down Rear Wing in Austrian GP Practice

McLaren has joined Ferrari and Red Bull in experimenting with upside-down rear wings, rolling out an "experimental" design during Friday practice at the Austrian Grand Prix. The Woking-based outfit is the latest to trial the concept, which first caught the paddock's attention when Ferrari unveiled its rotating version during winter testing.

Why it matters:

With the championship battle tightening, every aerodynamic gain carries weight. McLaren's latest test reflects an aggressive push to hunt down championship leader Mercedes while keeping pace with a resurgent Ferrari that Andrea Stella and reigning world champion Lando Norris have identified as the best chassis on the grid.

The details:

• McLaren's experimental rear wing is understood to be an upside-down design, similar to concepts previously run by Ferrari and Red Bull.
• The team confirmed the wing will run throughout Friday's practice sessions but is not expected to appear in qualifying or the race.
• Following careful factory analysis, the design—or a refined variant—could return later this season as a formal performance upgrade.
• Technical director Neil Houldey noted that while the Austria package is lighter than recent updates, it remains a vital part of McLaren's "season-long development pathway."

What's next:

The immediate priority is analyzing Friday's data to see if the concept delivers lap time. If the upside-down wing proves effective and can be refined for race conditions, it could offer a key advantage in the second half of the season. McLaren will now decide whether the concept warrants integration into its upcoming upgrade schedule.