The McLaren fin declared legal

Everyone remembers the accusations that arose against the British McLaren single-seater and its Innovative rear wing. Indeed, this innovation allows, under the driver’s command, the reduction of downforce to gain speed on the straight, which can help gain precious tenths of a second.

A request for examination had been submitted to the FIA, which, not wanting to spark a new controversy like the one over the 2009 double diffuser (Note: Brawn GP had the double diffuser, which was considered illegal by several teams before being made official by the FIA), decided to examine this new system this Thursday, before the first practice sessions in Bahrain.

The FIA declared this system completely legal, remaining within the restrictions imposed by the regulations, and described this innovation as simple but brilliant.

Since this rear wing was made official, the other teams on the grid have been keenly interested in this mechanism, with McLaren’s chief, Whitmarsh, certain that everyone will soon be able to create their own version.

« I imagine that many teams are now considering how to quickly implement this system. I think the initial question was ‘But what is it?’ before becoming ‘This can’t be legal.’ Now, as engineers begin to understand the system, it has become ‘How to add it quickly?’ »

The rear wing of McLaren legalized by the FIA seems to attract the interest of other teams in the championship. It remains to be seen if it will, like the double diffusers last year, be redesigned and added to the cars by the majority of the teams.