Oscar Piastri has downplayed concerns about McLaren’s prospects following the FIA’s stricter enforcement on front wing flexing at this weekend’s Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix. He described the clampdown as “overhyped” and expressed confidence in the team’s approach as they prepare to race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The focus ahead of the Spanish GP has turned to how the FIA is enforcing new, more rigorous tests on front wings, part of measures introduced before the 2025 season to control aeroelasticity. This move comes after widespread attention on flexing wings, notably McLaren’s rear wing, which came under scrutiny after Piastri’s victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. These developments have raised questions about whether the clampdown will significantly alter the competitive order.
Piastri Believes Front Wing Changes Will Have Limited Effect
Several drivers have suggested that the new testing regime will not drastically change performance levels, and Piastri agrees, emphasizing that McLaren’s small adjustments to their front wing will result in limited impact. Speaking from the paddock in Barcelona, he remarked,
“I think the biggest problem is how overhyped it is,”
said Piastri.
“We know what’s different. I think everyone will have to change to an extent. I’ve not run the front wing but Lando has already run the front wing before this year. We’re confident that’s not our magic bullet.”
“We don’t have a magic bullet. That’s not our main strength.”
His comments suggest that the McLaren car’s strengths lie elsewhere, and they do not rely solely on any aerodynamic trickery related to the front wing that might now be limited by the FIA.
Close Championship Battle Between McLaren Teammates
The rivalry within McLaren is intensifying as the season progresses, with only three points separating Piastri and teammate Lando Norris heading into the Spanish Grand Prix. Piastri has claimed four wins in the opening eight races, but Norris delivered a strong comeback at Monaco with a stunning qualifying lap and ultimately secured victory in Monte Carlo.
With both drivers eager to continue pushing one another, Piastri expects tight competition this weekend.
“I hope so. It’s always been tight everywhere we’ve gone,”
he said.
“There’s been weekends where I’ve been a bit quicker. There’s been weekends where Lando’s been a bit quicker but they’ve not necessarily been the weekends where we’ve beaten each other.”
“There’s there’s more to it than just being fast, so, I think it’s gonna be, you know, it’s gonna ebb and flow a bit through the whole year, but I mean I’m I’m confident I think we’ve analyzed what went a little bit wrong in Monaco, I mean it still wasn’t a terrible weekend but just not as good as some of the weekends have been this year for me, so, we’ve looked at what we can do a bit better and we’ll try and put that in action.”
This insight reveals Piastri’s reflective approach after Monaco, where performance was solid but fell short of his standards. McLaren appears committed to learning from past races to strengthen their challenge for both race wins and the championship.
Implications of the Front Wing Clampdown for the Season
The FIA’s clampdown on wing flexing aims to ensure fair competition by limiting performance gains from aeroelastic components. While some fear this could disrupt the competitive landscape, Piastri’s perspective suggests McLaren sees this as only a minor adjustment rather than a setback. Their confidence indicates that their car’s design resilience may help maintain their strong showing as the season moves forward.
With the Formula 1 title race heating up between teammates and across the field, the Spanish Grand Prix will be a key moment to observe how the updated wing rules influence performance. Regardless of regulatory changes, McLaren drivers remain focused on close competition and incremental improvements as they target continued success.
