McLaren is STILL Dominant, Even Without the ‘Mini DRS’

Not too long ago, McLaren’s ‘mini DRS’ was the talk of the paddock. 

This little innovation had the media (and fans) going coo-coo-CRAZY following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where it gave McLaren a noticeable edge on the straights. But then, the FIA stepped in and shut it down, ruling that it didn’t quite fit within the regulations. 

Many (myself included) thought that without this trick up their sleeve, McLaren might struggle and RB would be able to catch up. Keyword: thought. 

Fast forward to the Singapore Grand Prix, and McLaren proved everyone wrong, showing that their car is still a force to be reckoned with (and maybe a little afraid of, if you’re RB)

Sooo, what exactly was the ‘mini DRS,’ why did it get banned, and how did McLaren manage to dominate even after losing it?

Let’s get into it…

What Was McLaren's 'Mini DRS' and Why Was It Banned?

First, let's quickly cover what DRS (Drag Reduction System) usually is in F1. 

DRS is a tool that drivers can use on straight sections of the track to reduce drag and go faster. It works by opening a flap on the rear wing, which allows the car to pick up speed and helps with overtaking. Simple enough, right?

Mclaren's "Mini DRS" in Action

Well, McLaren's ‘mini DRS’ worked a bit differently, and that's where things got spicy. 

Basically, the top part of McLaren's rear wing was designed to tilt back ever-so-slightly as the car picked up speed on the straights. This wasn’t controlled by the driver or any electronic system, but rather happened naturally because of how the wing responded to airflow. When the wing flexed back, it created a small gap that reduced drag, giving the car a speed boost. 

The BIG advantage here was that it didn’t rely on any manual input or specific zones to activate – it just kicked in naturally at high speeds, giving McLaren a special edge on tracks with long straights like Azerbaijan and Monza. 

But, as with all fun things in F1, this caught the attention of the FIA, who took a closer look and decided that McLaren’s wing was bending more than the rules allowed. F1 has strict regulations about how much car parts, especially wings, can flex to prevent teams from gaining unfair advantages. After investigating, the FIA ruled that McLaren’s ‘mini DRS’ broke these rules, and they ultimately had to remove it.

The Mclaren's rear wing

How McLaren Stayed Strong in Singapore Without the 'Mini DRS'

When Singapore rolled around, many fans (myself included) were curious to see how McLaren would perform now that their little trick was gone. There was some doubt about whether they could still hold their ground against the top teams. But McLaren didn’t just survive; they thrived, proving they have much more than just one clever wing design up their sleeve…

Right from the start, Lando Norris showed that McLaren was in top form. 

In the early laps, he built up an insane two-second gap over Verstappen, which immediately put McLaren in control of the race. Now, you might think he was pushing too hard too early, but in reality, Norris was just warming up his tyres and finding the right rhythm. Then, once he got the green light from the team to push harder, he did, increasing his lead even FURTHER. 

So, what made McLaren so strong in Singapore? 

Well, it wasn't just raw speed alone—it was about balance, grip, and tyre management. 

Singapore is a high-downforce track, meaning it has a lot of slow and medium-speed corners that require cars to have excellent grip and balance. McLaren's MCL38 was perfectly set up for this type of circuit.

The car’s high-downforce design allowed it to stick to the track, giving Norris the confidence to navigate the tight corners faster than his competitors. This added grip also helped preserve the tyres, which is crucial on a track like Singapore, where managing tyre wear can make or break your race. While other teams like Red Bull and Mercedes struggled with tyre degradation and stability, McLaren seemed to have it alllllll under control. 

Overcoming Obstacles

Even though Norris drove an INCREDIBLE race, there were a couple of hiccup moments that could have gone wrong. On lap 28, he went too deep into Turn 14 and lightly brushed the wall with his front wing. Later, on lap 46, he clipped his left-rear tyre at the entry to Turn 10. 

But thanks to the car's balance (and his own skill, not to be downplayed), he recovered quickly without losing the lead.

By the final laps, Norris had built such a commanding lead that he could have made an extra pit stop and still kept his position. With just eight laps to go, he was a whopping 29 seconds ahead of Verstappen – which is honestly crazy. This kind of dominance showed that McLaren's strength in Singapore wasn’t just a fluke, but rather the result of a well-designed car and a race strategy tailored perfectly to the track's demands.

Why McLaren’s Win Matters

What makes McLaren’s performance in Singapore so impressive is that they managed to dominate without relying on any tricks like the 'mini DRS.' 

Their success came down to having a car that’s designed for high-downforce tracks, and Singapore was the perfect place to showcase that strength. 

This race also sends a clear message to their rivals: McLaren is still a serious contender. 

While teams like Red Bull and Ferrari aim for a more balanced performance across all track types, McLaren has doubled down on circuits that require high downforce and precision handling. By focusing on these types of tracks, they’ve carved out their own niche in the championship fight, and made themselves dangerous af, to say the least.