The McLaren Formula 1 Team continues to impress the paddock for its remarkable consistency in introducing technical upgrades race after race. At the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the team debuted a newly designed floor that pushes aerodynamic concepts to the extreme, along with a revised rear corner assembly. During the first free practice session (FP1), both drivers — Australian driver Oscar Piastri and British home favorite Lando Norris — ran different car configurations before converging on the most effective and performance-oriented solution.
The McLaren team shows no signs of slowing down. Even at Silverstone, the team that is currently dominating the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship standings has brought forward yet another round of technical developments. Under the leadership of Technical Director Rob Marshall, the Woking-based team introduced a revised floor design for the McLaren MCL39. This new version has been engineered to improve the management of aerodynamic flows, redistributing downforce more efficiently across the car with the goal of enhancing aerodynamic performance and overall handling.
This latest upgrade adds to the long list of innovations introduced on the MCL39 throughout the season, following the much-discussed upgrade to the front wing, which features distinctive “mermaid tail” endplates. Other developments have included suspension adjustments and refined corner assemblies. McLaren’s ability to adapt to rising track temperatures without suffering any reliability issues continues to impress. Moreover, the MCL39 retains the ride height characteristics that were carefully modeled in the wind tunnel, showing strong correlation between development tools and on-track performance.
The latest floor version enables an increase in aerodynamic load while also aiming for a more balanced distribution of that load. This balance is essential to make the bright papaya-colored single-seater easier to handle, especially during qualifying laps where precision and confidence are crucial. At Silverstone, once again, McLaren opted to run split configurations in FP1 to compare data: Oscar Piastri completed his laps with a lower-downforce rear wing, easily identifiable by its more pronounced central V-section, while Lando Norris focused on the version with a more resistant and drag-heavy main plane. This allowed the engineers to collect valuable feedback on different levels of rear-end grip and straight-line speed.
Both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris had to work extensively on mechanical setup adjustments to optimize their respective configurations. The setup work involved modifications to anti-roll bars and ride heights in order to adapt the car’s balance to the demands of the new aerodynamic surfaces.
Included in McLaren’s Silverstone upgrade package is also a new rear brake duct design. The revised rear corner — which encompasses the brake inlet and associated components — was re-engineered not only to improve the cooling efficiency of the braking system but also to increase the aerodynamic efficiency and stability of the car’s rear end. This upgrade contributes to improving both thermal management and airflow control at the rear of the MCL39, further refining the car’s performance window.
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