McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has dismissed complaints from rival teams regarding McLaren’s semi-DRS rear wing, asserting that they have had “absolutely zero” effect. During the F1 Sprint Race at the Miami International Autodrome on May 4, 2024, Stella noted that the distractions benefiting McLaren’s focus and performance improvement.
“Well the effect is absolutely zero,” Stella commented to Sky Sports F1. He added that the protests from competitors serve as positive news for McLaren, as they distract rival teams. “I think we saw it today. For us it’s just good news that our competitors get distracted with this kind of things because it means they don’t focus on themselves and for us it’s just an advantage,” he said.
The controversy began post-Azerbaijan Grand Prix when fans noticed a partial DRS effect on Oscar Piastri’s MCL38, raising questions about the wing’s legality. Red Bull and Ferrari were particularly vocal, with Red Bull’s Helmut Marko stating that they had protested to the FIA thrice.
Despite passing initial static tests, McLaren agreed to modify the wing for compliance. Continuing their strategic focus, McLaren aims to maintain performance on track. “We keep focused on ourselves, feet on the ground, keep delivering upgrades and that’s what we do. We talk on the track,” Stella emphasized.
