F1 News
F1 updates in Brazil: McLaren leave no stone unturned with these changes
The FIA has announced the submitted updates for the Brazilian Grand Prix, with McLaren being the only top-four team to make changes to its car. Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes will not introduce any upgrades this weekend, but McLaren has made circuit-specific changes to the rear wing and the beam wing. McLaren saw their Constructors' Championship lead reduced in Mexico, while Lando Norris is desperately searching for advantages to try and slash Max Verstappen's lead.
McLaren took the lead of the Constructors' Championship in Baku, but with Ferrari's double win in Austin and Mexico, the Italian team are knocking on the door. Just 29 points separate the two teams with four Grands Prix and two sprint races remaining. In Brazil, teams will get the chance to score points twice because F1 will use the sprint format.
Norris needs to maximise every weekend and hope Piastri, Ferrari and/or Mercedes prevent Verstappen from finishing on the podium because the British driver is trying to bridge a hefty 47-point gap.
Which teams have upgrades for the Brazilian Grand Prix?
McLaren and Sauber are the only two teams to introduce changes this weekend. It's not overly surprising because this is the third part of a fly-away triple header which has seen races in the US, Mexico and now Brazil. It is also a sprint weekend, so teams and drivers will only get one 60-minute practice session.
McLaren has made circuit-specific changes to their rear wing and beam wing. They have redesigned the Medium-Downforce Rear Wing. The aim for this is to increase overall wing efficiency over the existing medium downforce wing. The beam wing has also seen changes. "As required by the difference in rear wing design, a new beam wing, suitable for the new medium downforce rear wing mainplane and flap has been designed to maximise overall load generated by the assembly," the FIA document explained.
"To complement the new rear wing assembly and to extend the range of circuits where the achieved load and efficiency is suitable, a less loaded beam wing has been designed," the document said. After Oscar Piastri's win in Azerbaijan, McLaren made some rear-wing changes to the version used in Baku after a DRS-style effect was spotted when the car was on the straight and the DRS was inactive.
Sauber has also made a circuit-specific change to its beam wing and changed the front suspension, which they hope gives them more freedom with the mechanical setup. Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu have not scored points yet this season.
McLaren changes in Brazil
Sauber changes
