Zak Brown offers instant reaction to Christian Horner interview footage over McLaren rear wing

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McLaren have had to change their rear wing after a complaint from rivals Red Bull. The FIA have ordered the alterations after an investigation.

Rivals have questioned the legality of McLaren’s low-downforce wing, both publicly and privately. According to Auto Motor und Sport’s Tobi Gruner, they will have to make modifications after Red Bull took up the issue with the sport’s governing body.

Footage from the Azerbaijan GP, a race won by Oscar Piastri, showed McLaren creating a ‘mini DRS’ effect to improve their car’s straight-line speed. The wing had passed all checks up to that point but will now have to be revised.

McLaren and Red Bull are battling for the 2024 constructors’ championship, with Ferrari – 50 points off the pace in third – also a contender. The Bulls’ two-and-a-half-year run in top spot came to an end after Baku.

With Piastri’s victory and Lando Norris’ fourth place, McLaren came from seven points behind to establish a lead of 20. It remains to be seen how much performance Andrea Stella’s squad lose after the FIA’s demand.

The impact is likely to be particularly pronounced at circuits like Mexico, Brazil and Las Vegas, where top speed is key. It may not be as noticeable this weekend at a track like Singapore, a circuit dominated by slow corners.

Zak Brown agreed with Christian Horner on McLaren rear wing

During an interview after FP1, Sky Sports F1 showed McLaren CEO Zak Brown a clip of Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner speaking to their Italian colleagues. Horner indicated that they would seek to replicate the part if the FIA ended any doubt over its legality.

He said: “Obviously it passed the tests. As long as the FIA are happy with it. It sets a precedent now. We don’t wash to run to design wings that deform like that. If it’s deemed okay, then everybody will do the same.”

Brown was asked for his response, and credited his team for developing a ‘high-performance’ solution. However, the FIA’s stance has now changed.

The American said: “I think he’s spot on. It’s been passed the FIA. These Formula 1 engineers are very clever. They’ve certainly had some pretty awesome race cars the past decade. And it’s passed the test. Good on our team that’s coming up with something that’s high performance.”

Zak Brown’s surprising McLaren team order stance as Lando Norris battles Max Verstappen

To add a further edge to the McLaren/Red Bull rivalry, Norris is trying to take Max Verstappen’s drivers’ title. The gap stands at 59 points – large enough to make Norris an an outsider, but small enough to be assailable.

Friday’s developments come as a blow to Norris and a boost for Verstappen, who’s enduring a seven-race winless run. Red Bull will need to smooth out the handling of their own car before they can take full advantage.

In another piece of good news for the Dutchman, Brown suggested that Piastri won’t have to give up a win to Norris if they’re running one-two. While they’re prepared to use team orders, there’s a limit to how much they’ll favour the Englishman.

Brown has been fiercely critical of Horner at times this season, particularly after Norris and Verstappen collided in Austria. He pointed to ‘a lack of respect’ in how they responded to the incident.