McLaren Brings Latest Upgrade Package for Dutch GP

McLaren arrives at Zandvoort with new weapons. The Woking-based squad has brought a new rear wing and revised rear brake ducts, completing the development package it began introducing at the Hungaroring before Formula 1’s summer break.

The major upgrade in Hungary centered on a new floor and several aerodynamic changes, part of McLaren’s push to close the gap to the front. The results were sweet: Lando Norris claimed his first win of the season, while Oscar Piastri had to retire while leading due to a gearbox issue.

McLaren’s Technical Director of Applied Engineering, Neil Houldey, emphasized that the latest components are a continuation of the work started in Budapest. “We head into the Zandvoort weekend after finishing the final race before the shutdown with a win and a strong performance, but we are very aware of how close the competition is and how important reliability will be,” he said.

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Houldey also noted valuable lessons from the first part of the season. “We have learned a lot about how this car needs to be driven to extract performance and on containing the issues we faced earlier in the year. Now we focus on the rear side, with a new rear wing and new rear brake ducts, to complete the package introduced in Hungary.”

Despite that, he refuses to be complacent. “We know other teams will bring developments too. Therefore, it will be another tough event. If we execute well, we can put ourselves in the fight with the leading teams.”

Zandvoort itself is considered a different test for the updated MCL40. The circuit with its banked corners and undulating layout demands a compromise between aerodynamic performance and ride. “Finding the right balance between stiffness and ride performance over the bumpier sections will be key, while making sure we optimize the aerodynamic set-up and ride heights across practice,” Houldey explained.

The 2026 regulations also bring new challenges. “We expect cornering speeds to be lower because of the reduction in downforce, but straight-line speeds will be higher thanks to the increased power and reduced drag in straight mode. That changes the way the drivers will approach parts of the lap, and practice will be important for understanding the upgrades, refining harvest and deployment, and adapting if the weather adds another layer of complexity.”

McLaren arrives as the defending winner of the last two Dutch Grands Prix. Norris won in 2024, followed by Piastri last year—his most recent F1 victory to date. With the latest upgrade, can they extend that dominance?