FIA explain lack of action over controversial McLaren rear wing

The FIA has explained why it did not feel the need to take action over McLaren’s rear wing following complaints in Baku.

Onboard footage of the MCL38 showed the rear wing flexing at high speed at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, offering a boost in straight-line performance.

McLaren maintained that the rear wing was legal but confirmed during the Singapore Grand Prix that it would make changes to the element before the configuration is fitted in Las Vegas once again later this year.

FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis highlighted the governing body was always happy with the legality of the wing.

“We discussed the event after the Baku race,” he told Sky Sports Italy. “Usually, teams that complain about other configurations come to us on Friday to discuss.

“It has to be said that McLaren passed all the tests, that is important, and fulfilled everything that was written in the technical directives.

“So on the basis of that to us it didn’t seem appropriate in retrospect to act in this way. All the teams, without exception, even the ones that are loudest these days, have at times benefited from this approach.”

McLaren supposedly made changes to the wing to cool the growing tension between rival teams as it targets its first F1 title since 2008.

Tombazis hailed the approach by McLaren but signalled the matter was magnified by the sunshine in Baku.

“In my opinion it was the right thing to do in a sporting manner and did not deserve this exaggeration,” he said. 

“Then it is natural because the championship is very tight. At Baku there was sunshine in a certain direction, which highlighted this phenomenon more. 

“This was not the case at Monza and Spa, where nobody noticed it. Maybe if someone had come to us, we would have acted a little earlier.”