McLaren says it is not only F1 team under scrutiny for flexing rear wing

McLaren insists it is not the only Formula 1 team under scrutiny for a flexi rear wing, despite the intrigue over its ‘mini–DRS’.

The Woking-based team has been at the centre of attention since winning last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix after footage of Oscar Piastri’s rear wing was broadcast.

The rear-facing onboard camera showed the upper element of the rear wing rotating back, helping open up the slot gap – which will have helped deliver a straightline speed boost.

This behaviour has caught the attention of rival teams, with it triggering some demands for clarification from the FIA about what is and is not allowed in terms of flexible bodywork.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is understood to be concerned about the situation and is expected to voice his thoughts during an official FIA press conference on Friday.

But while the spotlight is on McLaren, the constructors’ championship leader has made clear that it believes it is not the only team playing around with such flexi tricks.

Asked if it felt rivals had been caught out by McLaren pushing the boundaries more than others, chief designer Rob Marshall said: “I wouldn’t say they’re exploiting it less than McLaren. I wouldn’t say McLaren are exploiting it.

“I would say that everyone’s approaching their wing design in the way they think [is best]. But you look at them… I mean obviously for whatever reason we are talking about ours at the moment.

“But I mean everyone can see everyone else’s as well. I don’t think we are the only people under scrutiny.”

Autosport understands that there are at least two other teams whose designs have prompted the attention of rivals for either the slot gap width or the way the whole rear wing rotates backwards.

While the FIA has said that it is evaluating evidence from Baku to decide if it needs to intervene with what teams are doing, Marshall said that its discussions with the governing body have been straightforward.

“There’s continued dialogue with the FIA, week in, week out, day in, day out with various aspects of the cars,” he said. “So, yes there has been [talks], but on what aspects of it, I wouldn’t want to focus on.”

He did explain, however, that the sole basis of any discussions was about compliance with the regulations – not about the behaviour of car parts.

“You discuss the requirements of the regulations and whether you are compliant with the…