SINGAPORE (AP) — Oscar Piastri says he's happy with the apparent flexible rear wing on his race-winning car but it's not a “magic bullet” making McLaren the team to beat in Formula 1 ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix.
Widely-shared footage from Piastri's win last week in Azerbaijan appears to show part of the rear wing flexing under the airflow at high speed, in a way that could potentially reduce drag and allow the car to go faster.
“It’s legal," Piastri said of the wing Thursday. "We get tested a lot and it passes. It’s certainly not the magic ticket or magic bullet for why we’re competitive, but it’s legal. It passes all the tests, so I’m pretty happy with it.”
Piastri added the wing isn't in a “grey area” in the F1 rules, which generally ban moving aerodynamic devices, with the exception of the overtake-assisting DRS rear wing flap that all cars have.
“I honestly didn’t even know that it did that until three days ago," Piastri said. "Obviously in the sport you find every bit of performance that you can without breaking the rules. I feel like that’s what we’re doing, and that’s what you need to do to become a championship-winning car and a championship-winning team.”
Piastri argued that on-form teams like McLaren — which overtook Red Bull in the constructors' standings last week — inevitably attract more attention. Various teams have faced questions in the past over elements of their front and rear wings.
“There’s going to be scrutiny of people curious to know why your car is competitive so I certainly don’t think it’s personal to us,” Piastri said.
Standings leader Max Verstappen called for the FIA to issue a “clarification” of how the rules work in practice and how much wings can bend.
“It’s quite clear that it’s moving at speed. It might be smart, might not be smart, but at the end of the day, it’s up to the FIA to decide if it’s legal or not, right?” Verstappen said.
In a statement, the governing body said: “The FIA is closely monitoring the flexibility of bodywork on all cars and reserves the right to request teams to make modifications at any point during the season.
“However, if a team successfully passes all deflection tests and adheres to the regulations and technical directives, they are deemed to be in full compliance, and no further action will be taken.”
The FIA added that it is reviewing data and other evidence “and is considering any mitigating measures for future implementation.” It noted it has the authority to make “regulatory changes” mid-season if needed.
Piastri is fourth in the standings, 91 points off Verstappen and 32 behind teammate Lando Norris of Britain, who is Verstappen's closest challenger. A race win is worth 25 points.
Piastri closed the gap with his win in Baku, where his teammate recovered to fourth after qualifying a long way back, but the Australian said he'll still be expected by McLaren to help out Norris.
“If I’m in a position to still win races, then that’s what I want to do and I think I showed in Baku that I’m capable of doing that,” he said. “But naturally if there’s times where I can help out for Lando’s championship bid then I’ll be happy to help out as well.”
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain in action during a Formula One Grand Prix practice in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia in action during a Formula One Grand Prix practice in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Half-centuries by Tom Latham and Kane Williamson led New Zealand's cricketers to 255-4 on day two of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
Replying to Sri Lanka's first innings 305, Latham and Devon Conway gave New Zealand a solid start by putting on 63 for the first wicket before the opener then added 73 for the second wicket with Williamson.
Latham looked comfortable against the spinners until he fell on 70. Attempting to sweep Prabath Jayasuriya, the ball came off his top edge and he was caught at square leg.
Williamson batted with authority and was on 55 when a lapse of concentration saw him glove a Dhananjaya de Silva delivery for wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis to take a terrific diving catch.
De Silva also bowled Rachin Ravindra for 39 when he failed to read the spinner's straight ball and shouldered arms.
An unbroken 59-run stand for the fifth wicket between Daryl Mitchell (41) and Tom Blundell (18) then took New Zealand to stumps.
Latham said: “It’s been a great day for us. Superb effort by the bowlers to get three wickets early and then the partnerships have been able to get us to that total. We put their spinners under pressure.”
Earlier, New Zealand did well to clean up the Sri Lankan tail. The last four wickets fell for three runs, fast bowler Will O’Rourke finishing with 5-55.
The morning session was ruined by rain as only 4.5 overs were possible. Play will get underway 15 minutes early on day three.
Craig Howard, Sri Lanka's spin bowling coach, said: “We felt we were in a very good position yesterday. Ideally we would have liked to get another 40 runs today. If we had bowled like we generally do, we could have been better off.”
New Zealand had a warm-up test last week against Afghanistan in India washed out after five days without a ball being bowled. Sri Lanka is coming off a three-match test series in England which the hosts won 2-1.
The teams will play a second test in Galle, beginning on Sept. 26.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
New Zealand's William O'Rourke shows the ball in his hand as he celebrates his 5-wicket haul at the end of the Sri Lanka innings on the second day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)
Bangladesh's Zakir Hasan dives to make an unsuccessful attempt to run out of India's Yashasvi Jaiswal on the first day of the first cricket test match between India and Bangladesh, in Chennai, India, Thursday, Sept.19, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)
New Zealand's William O'Rourke, right, is congratulated by his captain Tim Southee for his 5-wicket haul on the second day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)
Groundsmen pull the covers on as rain disrupts play on the second day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)
New Zealand's Tom Latham, left, and teammate Devon Conway leave the ground after rain disrupted play on the second day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)
New Zealand's William O'Rourke shows the ball in his hand as he celebrates his 5-wicket haul at the end of the Sri Lanka innings on the second day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)
