© Florent Gooden / DPPI
McLaren will be on par with its Mercedes-powered rivals for the first time this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps. Both cars, driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, will receive the latest specification of the Mercedes engine, two Grands Prix after its introduction on the factory Mercedes cars, as well as a new rear wing which will be evaluated during Friday’s free practice session.
The new specification of the block Mercedes Benz had made its debut in Austria on the cars of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, before being deployed at Alpine et Williams starting at Silverstone. McLaren deliberately delayed the transition: the Woking team still had usable mileage on its current power units and preferred not to accelerate the replacement cycle.
The context explains this caution — the withdrawal of Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz in Austria, Alex’s Albon at Silverstone. For a team that has already suffered two separate battery failures that had prevented Lando Norris et Oscar piastri to take the start of the Chinese Grand Prix, there is therefore no question of further disrupting the component management schedule after this start of the season.
A new rear wing is the other new feature of the Belgian weekend. It will be “Tested and evaluated during Friday’s free practice sessions”According to McLaren, which had already tried to introduce a variable-geometry wing — said “Macarena” — in Austria without ever having tested it on the track. However, it seems that this time, it is a more conventional wing for the British team.
More improvements to come
Neil Houldey, technical director in charge of applied engineering, is cautious about expectations. “We are confident that this upgrade will bring a bit of performance to our car, but we are fully aware that after a difficult British Grand Prix, particularly in terms of pure performance, even this race will not be easy. Therefore, we do not expect a major change in terms of competitiveness.”
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The frankness of the statement contrasts sharply with the usual superficial optimism of team communications. McLaren implicitly acknowledges that Silverstone highlighted fundamental shortcomings, and that the new engine and wing alone will not be a sufficient solution.
The real deadline, however, lies ahead at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where the team is planning a package “significant” accompanied by a change of direction compared to the initial concept choices. A kind of admission that the development of the MCL40 required a recalibration during the season, and that the second half of the year will be decisive to remain in the race for the Constructors’ Title.
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