McLaren detail why 'red herring' scrutiny is ‘good news’

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has insisted it is “good news” that rival F1 teams have taken issue with its rear wing.

Following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, onboard footage of Oscar Piastri emerged that showed the MCL38's rear wing flexing at high speed.

The Woking-based team declared it would make changes to cool mounting tension, further insisting it had not been requested by the FIA to do so.

Stella detailed the scrutiny it faced showed other teams were not focusing on their cars.

“I find that so much attention on our rear wing is just good news because it means that opponents are not focusing on themselves,” Stella told media including RacingNews365.

“Formula 1 is such a marginal game. It’s so complicated. I keep repeating to my team, ‘Focus on yourself’.

“So for me, when I see that there’s so much attention from other teams, it means that they will be doing work, they will be doing analysis, they will be talking to the FIA.

“They’re using this time and energy to chase something that I think is a red herring. So for me, as McLaren, that’s just good news.”

McLaren is currently pursuing its first constructors' title in 26 years, holding a 41-point lead over Red Bull after recently ending its 55-race run at the top of the standings.

Lando Norris has also closed to within 52 points of three-time F1 champion Max Verstappen at the top of the drivers' standings, although he faces a tough task to overhaul the Red Bull driver with 180 points up for grabs from the final six grands prix and three sprints.

Stella insists, however, that McLaren is steering a true path as it will "try to stay focused on ourselves".

He added: “We want to come with technical solutions that may be challenging but totally sound from a legality point of view.

“If others want to get destructive, keep doing that. Because for us, it’s just good news.”