Lando Norris Tells Red Bull to “Complain Less and Do… Read More
Lando Norris has responded bluntly to Red Bull’s concerns about McLaren’s rear-wing design, urging the reigning champions to stop complaining and focus on improving their car. The controversy centers around McLaren’s MCL39, which reportedly has a more flexible rear wing than its rivals, particularly Red Bull’s RB21.
Red Bull has struggled to replicate the flexing behavior seen in McLaren’s car and suspects it gives Norris’s team an aerodynamic advantage. The FIA has already responded to the controversy by introducing stricter wing tests at the start of the season. Despite this, McLaren insists their design remains unchanged and fully compliant with the rules.
The issue has expanded beyond the rear wing, with the FIA preparing to introduce a new technical directive targeting front-wing flexing starting at June’s Spanish Grand Prix. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes this could help level the playing field, giving them a better chance of challenging McLaren consistently.
However, Norris, who currently leads the drivers’ championship by a narrow margin over Max Verstappen, has dismissed the complaints from Red Bull. He stressed that McLaren is operating within the rules and has done a better job of developing their car.
“We’re all fully within the rules, we’re doing a good job, and Red Bull has had plenty of time to do the same thing,” Norris said. “It’s more that they should do a better job rather than keep complaining about things.”
Norris also expressed his support for the FIA’s regulatory efforts, noting that the recent rule updates haven’t affected McLaren’s setup. While he’s uncertain about the impact of future technical directives, he pointed out that Red Bull also pushes the boundaries in certain areas.
“So we can also play that game,” Norris said, “but we will just focus on ourselves rather than complaining about others.”
The controversy intensified following the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, where a video comparing the flex of the MCL39 and RB21 rear wings went viral. The clip, shared by Max Verstappen’s father Jos, fueled online speculation about McLaren’s legality.
Norris, however, dismissed such conclusions drawn from videos as uninformed. “How do they know it’s the rear wing that’s flexing? They don’t—it could be the whole car,” he said. “People can just come up with what they want, but really, they have absolutely no idea.”
As the Bahrain Grand Prix approaches, tensions remain high, with Norris clearly signaling that McLaren intends to stay focused and competitive—regardless of what Red Bull thinks.
