McLaren reintroduces experimental "H-Wing" for Baku street fight

McLaren is set to bring back its experimental aerodynamic component, colloquially known as the ‘Macarena’ wing, for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix. After a one-race hiatus following its debut at the Italian Grand Prix, the Woking-based squad is reintroducing the component—officially dubbed the ‘H-Wing’—as they prepare for the unique challenges of the Baku street circuit.

Balancing Drag and Downforce

The ‘H-Wing’ has been a teased element throughout the season, though McLaren has frequently opted to abandon it during race weekends as rival teams prepare their own versions for race-ready trim. The component is designed to assist with the technical compromises required at Baku, a circuit defined by its extremes.

Chief Technical Officer and Chief Designer Rob Marshall emphasized the complexity of the venue, noting that Baku combines the longest straight in Formula 1 with some of the slowest corners. This creates a massive challenge in managing drag versus downforce.

“Straight Mode gives every team greater scope to run a low-drag car on the straights while retaining downforce through the corners,” Marshall explained. “But the challenge remains the same: bring the best design and set-up choices, then execute them cleanly on track.”

As the team continues to develop its package, they are also looking at key aero upgrades for Norris and Piastri to ensure they remain competitive in a tightening field.

No Margin for Error in Baku

The history of experimental wings in Baku is well-documented, including McLaren's infamous ‘flexi-wing’ that aided Oscar Piastri to victory two seasons ago. However, the team is wary of the high stakes involved in the current championship battle.

Marshall highlighted several critical areas for the MCL40:

• Energy and Thermal Management: Managing energy deployment and keeping tyres and brakes warm arriving at Turn 1 after the long straight.
• Operational Precision: On a tight street circuit, the cost of error is immense. “A small mistake can lead to significant repairs, lost track time and resources being diverted away from performance,” Marshall cautioned.

McLaren enters the weekend hoping to avoid the struggles seen in 2025, when Piastri crashed out on Lap 1 and Norris finished in seventh. With the top four teams expected to be in contention, the team is focused on delivering immediate performance while balancing development for the future.