Formula 1 United States GP

McLaren makes further 'mini-DRS' rear wing changes ahead of US GP

McLaren clears up situation surrounding rear wing modifications for rest of season

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal and General Manager, Scuderia Ferrari and Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Jock Clear, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Reserve Driver, Ferrari and Haas F1 Team, James Vowles, Team Principal, Williams Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team, Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, with Romain Grosjean

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Helmets of Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, in the cockpit

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, in the cockpit

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Franco Colapinto, Williams, Gaetan Jego, Williams Racing Race Engineer

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

The flag of the United States of America

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, NASCAR star Jeff Gordon swap helmets

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Oakes, Team Principal, Alpine F1 Team, in the Team Principals Press Conference

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, in the Team Principals Press Conference

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team on stage

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Former NASCAR star Jeff Gordon poses with an Aston Martin Pirelli Hot Laps car

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team, Raoul Spanger, Manager of Nico Hulkenberg

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Leo Neugebauer in the Haas F1 Team garage

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, with Gene Haas, Owner and Founder, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Mick Schumacher, Reserve Driver, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Mechanics push Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Alex Albon, Williams FW46

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Sprint pole man Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Sprint pole man Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, celebrates in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, receives his Sprint Qualifyiing Award from Leo Neugebauer, German Track and Field athlete

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Neugebauer, German Track and Field athlete

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday

McLaren has clarified that it has made modifications to its full range of rear wings ahead of the United States Grand Prix, following the recent 'mini-DRS' controversy.

The Woking-based team found itself at the centre of attention following the Azerbaijan GP after video footage of its rear wing flexing was broadcast.

The way that the upper element of the rear wing rotated back to help open up the slot gap led to the concept being swiftly labelled as 'mini-DRS'.

While the rear wing passed all the FIA static load tests, its behaviour at high speed prompted discussions between the governing body and McLaren over the situation.

And, as part of that dialogue, McLaren said that it subsequently agreed to revise the low-drag wing that had been used in Baku to ensure that it did not flex in such a way going forward. This wing was only likely to ever return in Las Vegas though.

However, ahead of this weekend's race in Austin, the issue became a talking point again as rumours swirled that the team had been asked to make further changes by the FIA.

The squad has denied this but has admitted that as part of ongoing dialogue, it has agreed to make changes to its entire range of wings, including the one that will be used in Austin.

It is understood that this involves modifications to the upper element to stop it from flexing, as well as a narrowing of the slot gap.

A McLaren spokesperson said: "As previously mentioned, McLaren proactively offered to make some minor adjustments to our rear wing following the Azerbaijan GP.

"We have made minor adjustments to all our rear wings since Baku to varying extents to ensure no further issues in this area."

Ferrari SF-24 rear wing, US GP

Photo by: Giorgio Piola

The tweaks that McLaren has made to its rear wings come on a weekend when the FIA continues to take a strict approach to monitoring rear wing flexing.

As spotted in the pitlane, teams now appear to be fitted with an increased number of reference dots placed on various sections of the rear wing, which are used by the FIA to evaluate how much flexing is taking place.

These dots act as a reference so that any flexion can be more easily spotted in the footage captured by the rearview camera.

It is also understood that higher resolution cameras are going to be used in the rear-facing camera position to increase fidelity and provide the necessary detail required.