McLaren Racing is pulling up to the F1 Italian GP rocking a newly dubbed ‘H-Wing’ rear wing and an enhanced livery, but don’t let the fresh paint fool you: Technical Director Neil Houldey is laying down the cold, hard truth. While Lando Norris just delivered back-to-back wins in Hungary and the Netherlands, Houldey is making it crystal clear that Monza is a completely different beast, and those recent victories might not mean squat on this unique track.
The ‘H-Wing’ Isn’t Just for Speed, It’s for the Money
So, about this ‘H-Wing.’ McLaren took a page right out of Ferrari’s playbook, developing their own ‘Macarena’ rear wing. They first tried to test it in Austria, but “other gremlins” got in the way. Classic F1 drama, right? But they kept at it, brought it back for later races, and finally validated its viability. They even ran it properly during practice in Hungary, and now it’s making its big return for the Italian GP at Monza.
Here’s the kicker, and this is wild: McLaren named it ‘H-Wing’ as an homage to the old ‘F-Duct.’ Back in the day, they used the ‘F’ for branding on the car’s inlet. Guess what they’re doing now? They’re using Etihad Airways’ ‘H’ to name the wing, leveraging their commercial partner right there on the rear wing. Talk about maximizing value! It’s not a “big package” of updates, just some minor aerodynamic tweaks building on previous changes, but that naming strategy? That’s next level.
Back-to-Back Wins, Fresh Paint, and a Whole Lotta Pressure
Beyond the new wing name, McLaren is also bringing back a killer livery they’ve used before, thanks to their partnership with OKX. We’ve seen some iconic looks from them: the Stealth Mode livery at the 2023 Singapore GP, the McLaren SENNA at the 2024 Monaco GP, and that slick Riviera-inspired livery at the 2025 Monaco GP and Spanish GP. Now, they’re rolling out another livery enhancement for both the 2026 Italian and Spanish GPs.
The team is absolutely riding high after Lando Norris snagged those back-to-back F1 wins in Hungary and the Netherlands. Neil Houldey summed it up perfectly: “We arrive at Monza following back-to-back victories, and it has been great for everyone in the team to see the progress we have made this season rewarded on track.” He added that winning again was a “fantastic feeling” and totally “reinforced the motivation across the team to keep pushing.” That’s the kind of energy you want heading into a big race!
Monza Is a Different Beast, And They Know It
Despite the winning streak, Houldey isn’t letting anyone get complacent. “We know we have had a quick car at the last few races, but we are not taking anything for granted,” he said. He’s right to be cautious, because Monza is a whole different ballgame. “This is a very different track from the most recent ones,” Houldey explained, warning that the “pecking order that not necessarily reflects what has been seen in Hungary and in the Netherlands” could be in play.
Monza is all about those long straights, meaning drag reduction is king. Then you’ve got the heavy braking zones that demand rock-solid stability, and chicanes where good ride performance is crucial. Energy management around the lap is going to be super tight, so figuring out the best way to recharge and deploy it will be huge during practice. Houldey even mentioned a potential “yo-yo effect” in overtakes if different teams manage their energy differently. The margins at the front are still razor-thin, so their pre-event simulations and simulator work have to be spot on to give them a strong baseline.
It’s going to be wild to see if McLaren can extend their stay at the top this weekend at the F1 Italian GP. All eyes are on Monza to see if that ‘H-Wing’ and enhanced livery can help them navigate a track that’s ready to challenge every bit of their recent momentum.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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