F1 | McLaren Doesn’t Immediately Use New Upgrades in Races: Could This Be the British Team’s Secret to Consistency?
McLaren stands out on the current Formula 1 grid for its unique and methodical approach to car development. The team, headquartered in Woking, has adopted a distinctive strategy when it comes to introducing upgrades to the MCL39. While many of their competitors rush to implement new components immediately in races, McLaren often holds back — and this deliberate process might be one of the key reasons why their updates rarely result in performance regressions.
Unlike other teams that install fresh upgrades on the car and race them immediately, McLaren prefers a more cautious, data-driven approach. Often, new parts appear in the FIA’s official technical documents ahead of a Grand Prix weekend, signaling the team has brought upgrades to the circuit. However, these components don’t always make it onto the car during qualifying or the race itself. In many cases, McLaren simply tests them during the free practice sessions, then shelves them until a future Grand Prix weekend.
McLaren and the Mystery of Unused Upgrades
A recent example of this strategy was seen during the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Team Principal Andrea Stella openly discussed how McLaren handled one such upgrade during that weekend. The team brought a revised version of the car’s floor — a key aerodynamic component — but decided not to race it after testing.
Stella explained:
“The plan was always to use the floor as a test item, to get an early read on the new specification. The next race [Spa-Francorchamps] is a Sprint weekend, where it becomes much harder to fit new components and carry out proper back-to-back testing. We’re quite satisfied with what we saw during practice sessions at Silverstone. All the signs are encouraging and point toward introducing the new floor in the upcoming events.”
This approach illustrates McLaren’s well-defined philosophy: bring upgrades to the track to collect real-world data during free practice sessions. Engineers then use this information to evaluate performance and identify any potential weaknesses or flaws. Only once the team is fully confident in the reliability and effectiveness of the new component does it become a permanent part of the car’s race setup.
A Measured, Risk-Averse Strategy That Yields Results
The British team’s strategy offers several advantages. First and foremost, it allows McLaren to avoid the risk of unexpected setbacks in qualifying or race conditions — scenarios where unproven parts could compromise a driver’s performance. Secondly, it gives the team time to cross-reference trackside data with wind tunnel and simulation results, ensuring upgrades translate from theory to practice.
This is particularly important in Formula 1’s current cost cap era, where financial efficiency and technical precision are critical. Wasting valuable development budget on ineffective or regressive upgrades can have major consequences over the course of a season. McLaren’s approach minimizes this risk.
Moreover, McLaren’s testing methodology allows for greater flexibility. During weekends with traditional formats (without Sprint races), teams have more time in free practice to perform controlled comparisons between old and new specifications. This enables engineers to isolate the effects of each change more clearly, helping inform future design directions.
In contrast, during Sprint weekends, the schedule is compressed — with only one free practice session before parc fermé regulations lock in the setup for the rest of the weekend. This significantly reduces the window for testing and adjustments, which explains why McLaren avoided using the new floor at Silverstone ahead of the Spa-Francorchamps Sprint Race.
Conclusion: A Strategic Edge in a Tight Championship Fight
McLaren’s unique approach to upgrades has become a hallmark of the team’s resurgence in the 2025 Formula 1 season. By prioritizing consistency, reliability, and data validation over immediate implementation, the British team has managed to steadily improve its car without suffering the setbacks seen by some of its rivals.
Rather than chasing quick gains, McLaren builds confidence in every step of its development path. This calculated, cautious methodology could be a key factor in maintaining their upward trajectory as the season progresses — especially in a year where the championship battle is being fought down to the smallest technical detail.
With drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both in contention for the title, McLaren’s engineering discipline and long-term vision may prove decisive in determining who emerges on top in the world championship race.
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