World champions don’t rest on their laurels. Despite five wins in the first six Grands Prix and the awareness of having the most versatile car on the grid, McLaren is working to further enhance the MCL39. In Imola, the first true upgrade package debuts, showcasing the fine-tuning work carried out in Woking. Andrea Stella assures that development of the papaya-colored single-seater doesn’t stop here, with the intention of making it increasingly complete.
The Imola updates
The updates brought to Italy don’t revolutionize the MCL39, a car that, thanks to its performance so far, doesn’t require drastic changes. The Woking team focused instead on targeted corrections, acting with precision to energize and refine the airflow around the car. In the second half of 2024, McLaren had already introduced low-profile but effective updates, showing a slow and steady evolution rather than a sudden overhaul.
The Imola upgrades follow this trend, starting with new fairings on the rear suspension. The rear end had already been the subject of repeated attention and experiments in the early races of the year, confirming it as an area of particular focus for the team. When describing the updates, McLaren remains vague, referring to changes to the rear end—a term that also includes the aerodynamics around the rear wheel assembly and potentially even modifications to the brake cooling system.
There are also interesting changes to the front suspension, particularly around the wheel assembly, though it’s unclear whether the team merely modified the fairings or slightly shifted attachment points on the wheel hub. It’s hard to fully believe the official explanation that the changes are for reliability, aimed at easing the relative movement between suspension arms. The Imola package is rounded out by a high-downforce beam wing and rear wing.
Development continues
It’s surprising that, for now, McLaren hasn’t touched the floor of the MCL39, which remains unchanged since the start of the season. The diffuser is still the same one used in Melbourne, with the Jeddah version relegated to a simple experimental spec. However, the underbody may change in upcoming races, as Andrea Stella has ruled out the possibility that the team will already halt development of the 2025 car to focus on new regulations: “We intend to keep developing the MCL39 and, if possible, make it even more versatile across a wider range of conditions and cornering speeds.” The message to the competition is clear: McLaren has no intention of slowing down.
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