McLaren to run new rear wing at Belgian Grand Prix after Austria setback

McLaren switches rear-wing plan for Spa

McLaren will introduce a new rear wing assembly at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix after abandoning its planned evaluation of a different design in Austria.

The team instead relied on known components during the Sprint weekend at Silverstone. With Spa-Francorchamps presenting a very different challenge, McLaren now plans to bring an alternative rear-wing package. The decision adds a clear development point to a weekend already expected to place heavy demands on the car’s energy systems.

Houldey sets measured expectations

McLaren Applied Engineering technical director Neil Houldey said the team had prepared extensively through simulation work, particularly for Spa’s energy-management requirements.

“We're arriving at Spa with a new rear wing assembly, an upgrade we've had in the pipeline as part of the car’s development pathway,” Houldey said.

He added that McLaren was confident the change would provide “a bit of performance”, but rejected the idea that it would transform the team’s competitive position after Silverstone.

“We are fully aware that after a difficult British Grand Prix, mainly in terms of pure performance, even this round won’t be that easy, so we won’t be expecting any big change in terms of competitiveness,” he said.

Energy management and weather risks

Houldey expects Spa to be particularly demanding, with McLaren anticipating a significant amount of super-clipping despite Formula One Management’s belief that reduced recharge limits will restrict it to one or two seconds per lap.

The weather could add another variable. Showers were forecast to potentially affect Friday afternoon practice, while storms remained a possibility around Saturday qualifying. Houldey said wet running would offer McLaren an opportunity to understand the car’s behaviour in low-grip conditions and gather useful data for the remainder of the season.