Following numerous complaints about McLaren`s car, Lando Norris stated that the updated rules regarding flexible wings, implemented at the Spanish Grand Prix, had `no effect`.
A main topic of discussion before the Barcelona event was whether the more rigorous front wing inspections would negatively impact McLaren.
McLaren appeared to be one of the teams benefiting from flexi-wings. Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur even suggested this rule change could significantly alter the competitive landscape in 2025.
However, in the race, Norris and Oscar Piastri secured a dominant one-two finish, with Piastri claiming his fifth victory of the season, the first McLaren one-two since the Australian Grand Prix.
There was a lot of complaints about our car, and they introduced this TD [Technical Directive] and changed nothing.
Norris, who is currently 10 points behind Piastri in the championship standings, added that the team has done an excellent job providing them with a well-rounded car, arguably the best on the grid. He expressed pride in driving these cars and credited the team`s consistent effort.
Ferrari was anticipated to gain from the flexi-wing adjustments. Despite Charles Leclerc securing a podium, McLaren maintained a significant lead over the rest of the field, with the exception of Max Verstappen who pursued an alternative strategy.
Lewis Hamilton criticized the regulation update, which required most teams to manufacture new front wings, suggesting F1 `should be donating that money to charity`.
The balance is definitely not as nice as what we had before. It hasn`t made any difference to the leaders at all… What a waste of money, it`s just wasted everyone`s money. It`s literally changed nothing. Everyone`s bent wings still bend. It`s just half the bending, and everyone`s had to make new wings, and spend more money to make these. It doesn`t make any sense.
Addressing the rule change timing, FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis explained that introducing stricter tests earlier this season would have burdened teams, potentially leading to scrapping existing wings and incurring extra costs. He felt a deferred introduction was more reasonable.
Significance of McLaren`s Performance (According to David Croft)
I thought one of the key things about Sunday’s race was the lack of evidence that the new technical directive from the FIA has made any difference to McLaren whatsoever. McLaren kept saying ‘it’s going to make no difference to our competitive pace, Red Bull are looking in the wrong places’. It appears Red Bull actually might have been looking in the wrong places because all McLaren did to their wing was put a little £50 bracket on to it to stiffen it up, and Oscar Piastri still won, Lando Norris still finished second and they still increased their advantage at the top of the Constructors’ Championship. What’s happened on the track, with McLaren’s pace not being affected by this technical directive, will have more of an impact on Max Verstappen’s championship chances than his run-in with George Russell at Turn Five.
Norris: McLaren`s Qualifying Pace Still Vulnerable
Norris commented on McLaren`s qualifying performance, believing their single-lap pace remains an area where they are `vulnerable` compared to competitors. He pointed out that people quickly overlook how close previous qualifying sessions have been, often decided by mere hundredths or thousandths of a second, and that not every session has been easy for them.
He anticipates similar close battles in the future. However, he feels McLaren has the best overall car on average and performs better in races, though he acknowledges rivals are closing the gap compared to earlier in the season.
I do think that our competitors are catching up. But, we just need to keep our heads down and keep working hard.
Marcus Prine