McLaren is taking a measured approach to introducing its rotating rear wing concept, known as the 'Macarena', during the 2026 Formula 1® season. While the team intends to race this innovative aerodynamic feature, it has not committed to a specific debut date, focusing instead on thorough trackside evaluation to understand its impact on car behavior.
The cautious rollout contrasts with Red Bull's recent experience, where their pivoting rear wing was temporarily shelved following crashes involving Max Verstappen at the Red Bull Ring and Silverstone. These incidents were linked to instability caused by delayed airflow reattachment during transitions in Straight Line Mode (SLM). McLaren, however, emphasizes that its decision to delay racing the wing is driven by a desire to collect more data and manage the complex aerodynamic and mechanical effects, rather than concerns over Red Bull's challenges.
McLaren first ran its rotating rear wing in the first practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix on the car of reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli, after abandoning a planned test in Austria. The wing’s design features a central actuator that rotates the flap forwards, similar in concept to Red Bull’s system but differing from Ferrari’s earlier rotating wing, which operates on a different principle. This setup creates some aerodynamic blockage but allows a wider gap between wing planes in SLM zones, as permitted by the 2026 regulations. These rules enable wing flaps to open in defined SLM zones with a transition speed but do not prescribe how the movement must be achieved, encouraging innovative solutions.
One of the key challenges McLaren faces is accurately simulating the aerodynamic behaviour during SLM transitions, particularly the reattachment of airflow and shifts in tyre loading. These phenomena are difficult to replicate with wind tunnel testing or computational fluid dynamics (CFD), making on-track data collection essential. To this end, McLaren has employed aero rakes during FP1 sessions to validate the effects of the new wing and other bodywork changes.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, described the project as complicated but positive so far, noting that the mechanical and aerodynamic behaviour observed has been consistent with expectations. The team remains focused on understanding the wing’s influence on car stability and performance before committing to a race debut.
While Ferrari was the first to run a rotating rear wing this season, their design operates differently from McLaren’s and Red Bull’s concepts. The ongoing development of these wings highlights the innovative approaches teams are exploring under the 2026 aerodynamic regulations.
McLaren’s careful strategy reflects the complexities involved in integrating such a device into a Formula 1® car, balancing potential gains with the need for reliability and predictable handling. The team’s methodical testing approach aims to ensure that when the 'Macarena' wing does appear in a race, it will be well understood and managed.
