McLaren will unveil an upside‑down rear wing at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, adding a crucial upgrade to its 2026 MCL40 as the team tackles a lagging aerodynamic package.
Upgrades – A Strategic Push
The Budapester round marks the next major opportunity for the MCL40 to gain speed after a prolonged period of slower aero development. Having delivered a first significant overhaul during Miami and Montreal, the team now introduces a redesigned floor and additional aerodynamic components aimed at improving load and efficiency.
Senior racing director Randy Singh stated that the upgrade arrives “in such a competitive season every development is important” and that the team will use free‑practice data to assess the changes before the mid-season shutdown.
A New Direction Under Andrea Stella
Olympic‑grade groundwork under team boss Andrea Stella has already produced tangible gains, prompting a second round of enhancements slated for Hungary. Stella noted that the recent upgrades in Miami were only the first steps in a clear developmental path that will continue throughout the season.
He added that the “range of performance” currently enjoyed by Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull is hard to match, but that the Hungarian package should start to shift McLaren’s competitiveness.
The Upside‑Down ‘Macarena’ Wing
After deferring a trial in Austria, McLaren has prepared an inverted version of Ferrari’s “Macarena” rear‑wing concept. The design features a mainplane that rotates 180 degrees when straight‑mode is active, a move that underscores the team’s willingness to push aerodynamics in new directions.
Initial attempts at the Austrian free‑practice session revealed frailties in the garage; the wing was subsequently taken back to the factory for refinements. The revised device will hit the apron during FP1 in Hungary, but the 2024 team has clarified that a full rollout will be postponed until a later world‑cup stop.
Timing and Reliability Concerns
Red Bull’s own “Macarena” suffered reliability hiccups when introduced at the Spielberg and Silverstone circuits, with Max Verstappen experiencing two unsettled spins. The 2023 MI team managed the wing well enough to take it out of the Belgian session, but will look for an upgrade as early as Hungary.
McLaren’s approach mirrors that of its rivals – risk, proof in practice, and cautious deployment – with the upside‑down concept earmarked for drag‑sensitive tracks such as Monza or Baku if Hungarian data proves promising.
Looking Ahead
With the Hungarian-Upright package in play, McLaren seeks to close the gap to leaders and set the stage for a stronger second half of the championship. The team’s bold test of the inverted wing reflects its broader ambition to broaden the 2026 aero toolkit and return the driver‑title fight to its previous intensity.
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