McLaren are set to debut its own iteration of the ‘Macarena’ rear-wing at the 2026 Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix.
The MCL40 comes into the race weekend at the iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza off the back of consecutive wins at Hungary and the Netherlands, respectively.
That said, after incremental upgrades either side of the F1 summer break, McLaren are ready to debut a radical rear-wing design at Monza.
The Woking-based squad has confirmed it will run an iteration of the ‘Macarena’ rear-wing throughout the Italian GP race weekend.
First spotted during pre-season testing on the Ferrari, the concept quickly caught up with the likes of Red Bull, who have run their own ‘up-side-down’ rear-wing since Miami – barring the weekend at Spa after consecutive shunts for Max Verstappen.
McLaren, though, have christened their rear-wing concept the ‘H-wing’, an ode to their sponsor Etihad Airways. For context, McLaren’s infamous ‘F-duct’ came from its then-sponsor Vodafone’s ‘F’ featuring near the air intake.
This version of McLaren’s rear-wing was put through its paces by reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli during FP1 at the Hungaroring.
Given the unique downforce profile of Monza, the team have decided to exploit its benefits this weekend.
“This weekend, we have brought what we believe is needed to be competitive, including a new low-drag rear wing specification, including the first use of our H-Wing, alongside some small aerodynamic and low-drag options that we will evaluate before deciding the final specification for Qualifying,” Technical Director Neil Houdley explained.
“Overall, we know there is still more performance to unlock from the MCL40, both through maximising the package we already have and through further upgrades planned for the races ahead.”
McLaren unveils special F1 livery for Monza and Madring
The new rear-wing is not the only thing changing on the MCL40 this weekend.
The Woking-based team has also revealed that it will be running a special livery, in partnership with its sponsor OKX, in Monza and Madrid.
In the past, McLaren and cryptocurrency giant OKX have partnered to present some pretty iconic liveries. The 2024 Monaco GP Senna livery springs to mind.
“Our livery campaigns with OKX have consistently served as a season highlight. The iconic 2024 SENNA design remains one of our most successful campaigns to date, generating an extraordinary global response across generations of fans,” McLaren’s Chief Marketing Officer, Louise McEwan said.
“This success underscores the profound value of our partnership, and we are thrilled to celebrate our ongoing, shared achievements in Monza and Madrid this year.”
Haider Rafique, Chief Marketing Officer of OKX described the special livery as a testament to the partnership the duo have created since 2022.
“When we partnered with McLaren Racing in 2022, the team was mid-table and the road ahead wasn’t obvious to everyone, but we believed in what this team could become,” he added.
“From Singapore to Monaco to the Riviera, every livery we’ve created together has marked a different moment in that journey. This one is about the partnership itself: what it took to get here, and what it represents for the team, for our brand, and for fans who’ve watched this story unfold with us.”
After back-to-back wins at the Hungaroring and Zandvoort, Lando Norris stands on the cusp of making it three wins on the trot at Monza, for the first time in his F1 career.
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