MCLAREN PREPARES “MACARENA” WING TEST IN AUSTRIA
McLaren is set to trial a new aerodynamic upgrade during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, with reports confirming that the team will evaluate a so-called “Macarena” wing during Free Practice 1 and 2 at the Red Bull Ring. The design is expected to be tested on Friday before potentially appearing later in the season as part of a wider development package.
According to journalist Jon Noble, McLaren will join Ferrari and Red Bull in experimenting with this type of rear wing concept, which has become one of the key development trends in the current Formula 1 aerodynamic era. While the nickname “Macarena” is informal and not an official technical term, it is used within the paddock to describe a flexible/rotating rear wing concepts in the 2026 aero era.
The rear wing flap physically rotates through a large angle during straightline mode to massively reduce drag rather than just opening like a traditional DRS flap.
Unlike old DRS, which simply creates a gap between elements, this concept changes the entire aerodynamic shape of the wing in motion, with the flap rotating to an extreme position so the wing becomes almost “neutral” to the airflow. That reduces the amount of disturbed air behind the car and cuts drag far more aggressively than previous systems.
The real purpose is not just straight-line speed, but efficiency across the whole lap. By aggressively lowering drag on straights, teams can run more rear wing downforce for cornering without paying as much penalty on straights.
McLaren’s upgrade is expected to be carefully evaluated during Friday practice, with engineers focusing on how the wing behaves across different fuel loads and tyre compounds.
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