TECH CORNER: McLaren set to introduce a host of upgrades at Spielberg
Despite leading both the drivers' and the teams' championships in a dominant fashion, McLaren will race with a host of upgrades on its MCL39 at this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix.
After its Canadian interlude, the F1 field returns to Europe, resuming with the Austrian and British double-header. The first of these sees the teams head to Spielberg in the Styrian mountains, a few kilometres from Graz.
To their standards in 2025, McLaren endured a difficult weekend last time out at Montreal. The papaya team was unable to challenge for pole position in Canada, with championship leader Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris having ended up third and seventh on the grid.
The opening stages of the race saw the Australian struggle to overtake Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli while the Briton lost valuable race time behind the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso.
With the race going ahead, McLaren started to become stronger, with Norris having posted particularly impressive lap times in the closing stages of the race. However, the two team-mates collided with just several laps left to go, and while Piastri managed to salvage a fourth-place finish, Norris was forced to retire from the action.
Despite the tough end to their Canadian Grand Prix, McLaren still comfortable lead the drivers' and teams' championship after ten races into the current season.
For this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, McLaren have brought three performances upgrades. The front suspension has been updated with the aim to improve flow conditioning.
"A revision to the Front Suspension fairings aiming at an overall improvement of flow conditioning which results in an aerodynamic performance gain," noted McLaren.
Complementing the aforementioned modifications to the front suspension, the aerodynamic devices on the front corner have been adopted to "allow full exploitation of the flow conditioning improvements."
The British outfit has also introduced changes to the rear corner of the MCL39. The team brought an alternative rear suspension geometry which requires "a revision of rear corner aerodynamic surfaces to maintain clearances as well as aerodynamic performance."
Speaking ahead of the weekend, Norris reckoned: “I’m looking forward to getting back to racing in Austria this week, it's a circuit with great memories for me and the start of another double-header.
“I’ve been working hard preparing with the team, spending time at the factory with my engineers. It's now time to take that information to track and get our heads down as we look to score some strong results.”
His team-mate Piastri stated: “I finished second in Austria last year and the aim is to go one better this year. I want to start this run of European races on the front foot and attack the weekend.
“It’s a short track but it’s a fun one to drive and I enjoy the combination of the straights and downhill quick corners. The team are doing an awesome job, and I can’t wait to get in the car.”
