McLaren is wary of Ferrari. The Woking team is fully aware of Ferrari’s recent form, with the Scuderia winning the last two races convincingly, recovering 46 points in the Constructors’ Championship, and narrowing McLaren’s lead to just 29 points with four races remaining.
All of this emphasizes that McLaren is now recognized as a universal car, capable of adapting to any type of track. Andrea Stella’s technical team decided to introduce updates only when confident that they would not disturb the balance of the MCL38.
Lando Norris in the United States Grand Prix at the Austin circuit and in Mexico City benefited from a new floor, which will also be available to Oscar Piastri at Interlagos. However, as in Austin, where only one free practice session was allowed due to the Sprint format, they are once again implementing a significant update on the Carlos Pace circuit, with only an hour to dial in the best setup before heading into Sprint Qualifying.
McLaren has introduced a new medium-downforce rear wing specifically for the São Paulo race weekend in Brazil, but this development could also serve as a foundation for future designs in the next Formula 1 season. The innovative solution features a main profile with a pronounced spoon shape in the central area and a leading edge that rises towards the sideplates, aiming to reduce drag and promote strong top speeds. This rather bold choice pairs with a mobile flap designed to ensure downforce. This element has a long chord (forgoing the nolder seen on Ferrari’s wing) and a thoughtfully contoured design rather than a flat shape.
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