McLaren will bring a dedicated low-drag aerodynamic package to the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, including a new rear wing and the first race use of the H-Wing previously tested during practice in Hungary. The solution forms part of the Woking team’s effort to find the best compromise between downforce and aerodynamic efficiency on Formula 1’s highest-speed circuit.
McLaren arrives at Monza on the back of victories in Hungary and Zandvoort, but fully aware that the Italian Grand Prix presents a very different test for the MCL40. The characteristics of the Brianza circuit require a highly specific aerodynamic configuration, and a solution first seen before the summer break will now make its race debut: the H-Wing.
McLaren H-Wing joins new low-drag package for Monza
The component first appeared during free practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix, but at Monza it will become part of the package McLaren has prepared to tackle the circuit with as little aerodynamic drag as possible.
The H-Wing will work alongside a new low-drag rear-wing specification and several other aerodynamic solutions that will be assessed during Friday practice. The data gathered from those sessions will determine the final configuration that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri use from qualifying onwards.
“This weekend, we have brought what we believe is needed to be competitive,” explained McLaren Technical Director of Applied Engineering Neil Houldey, “including a new low-drag rear wing specification, including the first use of our H-Wing, alongside some small aerodynamic and low-drag options that we will evaluate before deciding the final specification for Qualifying.”
It represents another step in the development of a car that has made significant progress over recent races. McLaren’s latest changes have already helped the MCL40 become increasingly competitive, with new front wheel rims among the technical developments used at Zandvoort.
Why McLaren calls its new solution the H-Wing
The name chosen for the component also contains a reference to McLaren’s technical history. In 2010, the Woking team introduced its famous F-duct, whose name originated from the letter “F” in the Vodafone branding positioned close to the system’s air intake.
Sixteen years later, McLaren has followed the same principle when naming the H-Wing. This time, the letter comes from the “H” in the Etihad Airways branding displayed on the rear wing.
Beyond the curiosity surrounding its name, however, the most important question will be how the concept performs on track. Monza demands one of the most extreme aerodynamic compromises of the entire Formula 1 season: teams need to minimise drag along its long straights without sacrificing too much stability under heavy braking or compromising the car’s behaviour through the chicanes.
Monza will provide a very different test for the McLaren MCL40
For McLaren, the Italian Grand Prix will also provide an important assessment of the progress made with the MCL40 over the latest rounds. The team does not necessarily expect to reproduce exactly the same competitive picture seen in Hungary and at Zandvoort, two circuits with very different characteristics from Monza.
Lando Norris’s Dutch Grand Prix victory confirmed McLaren’s recent step forward, while the team is continuing to develop the car as it attempts to close the gap to Mercedes. Its development programme is also set to continue beyond Monza, making the Italian weekend another important reference point for the MCL40.
The specific low-drag package prepared for Monza will therefore help demonstrate just how versatile McLaren’s improved car has become. After showing clear progress on the circuits used in Hungary and the Netherlands, the challenge now is to prove that the MCL40 can remain competitive when the aerodynamic demands shift towards straight-line efficiency, low drag and stability under braking.
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