McLaren confident ahead of wing inspection
09/03/2010 McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale is confident that the rear wing on the MP4-25 will be given the green light when inspected by the FIA later this week. Red Bull and Ferrari expressed concern at the rear wing following the recent test in Barcelona, citing a slot which reduces drag and increases straight-line speed. Indeed, using the wing, Lewis Hamilton posted the fastest time of the four day test. The FIA's Charlie Whiting was due to inspect the wing last week, ahead of this weekend's season opener, but he was delayed while returning from Brazil and consequently the wing will not be checked until shortly before the opening free practice session this weekend. Speaking in an online press conference this morning, Neale expressed confidence that the wing will get the green light. "There's nothing untoward about it, We're quite confident the car is legal," he said. However, mindful of the controversy that overshadowed last year's season opener, in terms of the double diffuser row, not to mention 'Liegate', Neale admitted that his team is taking an alternative wing, just in case. "We're not taking a radically different package," he said, "but you just never know what the stewards are going to do on the day. Therefore, we have a contingency, but I wouldn't put much effort into it and I'm not expecting it to be used. "We get the best advice we can from the FIA," he added. "However, if the stewards decide on a different course of action it's still our duty to go racing, so we have a contingency. "We've spoken to Stefano and some of the other team principals and colleagues there and of course everyone wants to see clarity," he continued, referring to Ferrari. "We're doing the same on a number of other teams' developments. There's nothing untoward about it though, we're quite confident the car is legal." |
