McLaren continues its development push
McLaren is certainly not a team to rest on its laurels. Despite four consecutive one-two finishes and a significant technical advantage reflected in both championship standings, the Woking-based team continues to deliver upgrades. The latest in sequence is a new rear wing, making its debut this weekend at Zandvoort, providing the squad with an additional tool to tackle the remaining circuits on the calendar.
The Zandvoort rear wing
This is a different McLaren returning to the pit lane after the summer break. The change comes in the form of a high-downforce rear wing, updated compared to the version used in Budapest and Monaco. The most noticeable difference lies in the shape of the main profile, particularly the narrowing of the central straight section. Overall, the modifications aim to increase maximum aerodynamic downforce and/or improve efficiency, reducing drag on straights while maintaining the same level of downforce.
It’s no coincidence that such an upgrade debuts at Zandvoort, a track lacking high-speed sections and featuring an average lap speed even lower than Budapest, which encourages the use of high-downforce configurations. The new wing expands McLaren’s rear wing package for the second half of the season. The Dutch configuration will certainly be useful in Singapore, while Mexico City, Interlagos, and Qatar are other circuits where it could prove advantageous.
Champion mindset
The debut of the new rear wing also exemplifies how this British team leaves nothing to chance, continuing to push development despite the championship situation. McLaren’s technical advantage has grown over the summer months, during which mechanical and aerodynamic upgrades arrived on both suspensions, as well as improvements to the floor, front wing, and bodywork. The MCL39 is undoubtedly an extremely innovative car, built on an excellent foundation, and development has definitively consolidated its technical superiority, allowing Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to fight for the title without worrying about a third contender.
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