MCLAREN TO DEBUT H-WING AT MONZA
McLaren will introduce its rotating rear wing at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, with the new design set to be used on both cars. The team first tested the concept during FP1 at the Hungarian Grand Prix and has now prepared it for racing at Monza.
The device has been named the “H-Wing”. The name comes from the H in the Etihad Airways logo positioned on McLaren’s rear wing. It also follows a tradition from the team’s past, with the 2010 F-duct taking its name from the F in the Vodafone branding next to its inlet.
The H-Wing is McLaren’s version of the rotating rear-wing concept already seen on Ferrari and Red Bull. Instead of simply opening a flap, the main wing element rotates through 180 degrees between its cornering and straight-line positions.
The main goal is to reduce drag on the straights while keeping the required aerodynamic performance in the corners. This is particularly important at Monza, where the cars run with very low downforce and spend around 76% of a lap at full throttle.
McLaren originally planned to test an early version of the wing at the Austrian Grand Prix, but an issue in the garage prevented the team from running it. A revised version was then tested in Hungary, giving McLaren the data needed before introducing it at a high-speed circuit.
The timing of the debut is not a coincidence. Monza has long straights and several heavy braking zones, making straight-line efficiency especially important. A reduction in drag can help increase top speed and improve overtaking opportunities without requiring the team to run a different aerodynamic concept for the entire weekend.
McLaren will therefore become the third team to race this type of rotating rear-wing solution after Ferrari and Red Bull. Ferrari’s version, known as the “Macarena”, was first seen during pre-season testing, while Red Bull later introduced its own interpretation.
The H-Wing will be one of the main technical points to watch during the Italian Grand Prix, as McLaren looks to improve its performance at a circuit where reducing aerodynamic drag is one of the key factors for lap time.
Share this content:
