McLaren Hints at Adopting 'Macarena' Rear Wing After Red Bull Joins Trend

McLaren is eyeing a so-called 'Macarena' rotating rear wing after Red Bull's debut of the design in Miami convinced CEO Zak Brown that the innovation is “clever” and potentially “beneficial.” The reigning champions are now the latest team to consider joining Ferrari and Red Bull in adopting the active aero concept.

Why it matters:

As the top four teams converge on similar solutions, McLaren could close the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari. A rotating rear wing offers aerodynamic advantages over conventional DRS, but early concerns about a sail-like effect and slower operation had kept some teams away. Now that Ferrari and Red Bull have shown it works in race conditions, the technology could spread quickly.

The Details:

• Ferrari debuted the rotating rear wing in pre-season testing and used it for a full race weekend in Miami for the first time.
• Red Bull introduced its own version in Miami as part of a major upgrade, helping Max Verstappen qualify on the front row.
• McLaren brought a sizeable upgrade to the MCL40 in Miami, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finishing second and third.
• Brown confirmed McLaren has assessed the design: “It's clever and we think it could be beneficial, so not surprised to see another team using it.”
• PlanetF1.com previously reported that rival teams considered developing the wing but diverted resources due to potential drawbacks like slow opening time and a brief sail effect.
• McLaren currently sits third in the constructors' standings, 16 points behind Ferrari. Norris is 49 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

What's next:

Brown expects the entire grid to tighten soon. “If you look at the lap times now compared to Australia, the whole field is starting to get consolidated,” he said. McLaren's next major upgrade—potentially including a rotating rear wing—could arrive in the coming races as the team looks to challenge Mercedes and Ferrari for race wins.