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Mercedes considered the Macarena wing concept more than a year ago

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Resta says the rotating wing offered a drag benefit, but Mercedes did not consider its downforce trade-off worth developing at the time.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · · 1 min

On Mercedes' Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show, deputy technical director Simone Resta said the team had a rotating rear-wing concept on its drawing board more than a year ago, but chose not to invest in developing it. Ferrari was the first team to run the design, known as the Macarena wing.

The wing's main flap turns over when a car switches into straight-line mode. Resta said the concept offered a reduction in drag but also reduced downforce in every session it was operated. He said the trade-off was not compelling enough to justify further development and making the components.

Resta said Mercedes might revisit its view and continues to assess other solutions.

Mercedes has managed without the wing so far. Ahead of the United States Grand Prix, it led Ferrari by 134 points in the constructors' championship.

Sources 01
  1. SOURCEMercedes reveals why it rejected the Macarena wing over a year agoMotorsport.com F1