The long break caused by the cancellation of the two Middle Eastern Grands Prix has effectively turned Miami into a second start to the Formula 1 season. Teams have taken full advantage of the downtime to introduce substantial upgrade packages: among the top outfits, only Mercedes arrived with a limited number of targeted changes, while McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari unveiled developments so extensive that they almost resemble Evo or “B-spec” versions of their respective cars.
The common thread across all teams is clearly aerodynamics. Nearly every update revolves around flow conditioning, floor management, and detailed work on the diffuser, floor edge, suspension elements, and rear wings. The shared objective is not only to increase downforce, but to make it more stable, more efficient, and less sensitive to setup variations. This confirms that this first major development window has primarily been used to refine, correct, and fully exploit the technical foundations seen in the opening races. Interestingly, the small winglet positioned in front of the exhaust (FTM), originally introduced by Ferrari, has now been adopted by virtually every team on the grid.
Here is a detailed overview of all the upgrades introduced by each team.
McLaren
McLaren arrives in Miami with a highly comprehensive package, highlighting a coordinated development approach across the entire car. The main focus is clearly on airflow conditioning, with targeted interventions on the front corner, sidepod inlet, and rear corner aimed at improving the quality of the airflow reaching the floor.
The new floor is the centerpiece of the update package. It features a completely revised geometry that works in synergy with the updated bodywork and sidepods, with the goal of increasing aerodynamic load without compromising overall efficiency.
Another interesting addition is the introduction of dedicated cooling solutions, underlining the thermal challenges posed by the Miami circuit. Optional louvre configurations provide flexibility, allowing the team to adapt the car to varying environmental conditions.
The package is completed by a new rear wing, contributing to overall balance and confirming that McLaren has pursued a holistic upgrade rather than isolated changes. This approach reflects a team focused on improving the car’s global aerodynamic efficiency.
Component – Motivation – Differences – Description
Front corner – Performance – Flow conditioning – Revised front corner structures – The front corner structures have been redesigned to improve interaction with the front wing, resulting in better overall airflow conditioning.
Coke/engine cover – Performance – Flow conditioning – Modified bodywork structures – New structures have been added around the central bodywork, improving airflow conditioning and increasing local downforce, leading to higher overall aerodynamic efficiency.
Sidepod inlet – Performance – Flow conditioning – Revised sidepod inlet – The sidepod inlet, together with the mirrors, has been updated to improve airflow conditioning in conjunction with the new floor geometry.
Cooling louvres – Circuit-specific – Cooling – Sidepod louvres – To handle the high cooling demands of the event, an optional louvre configuration is available, increasing overall cooling capacity when required.
Floor body – Performance – Local load – New floor geometry and board – A completely new floor, together with updated board geometry, works in synergy with the other modifications to generate increased aerodynamic load and efficiency in all conditions.
Rear corner – Performance – Flow conditioning – Revised rear corner structures – The rear-end structures have been updated to improve interaction with the new floor geometry, optimizing airflow conditioning.
Rear wing – Performance – Local load – New rear wing – A new rear wing featuring updated elements and revised endplates delivers an overall gain in aerodynamic load and efficiency.
Mercedes
Mercedes arrives in Miami with a focused and highly specific upgrade package, concentrated on two key areas: drag management and improving airflow towards the rear of the car.
The most interesting intervention concerns the exhaust, which has been repositioned and angled downward, now also featuring the small Ferrari-inspired winglet. This may appear to be a simple modification, but it can have significant effects on the interaction with the rear wing and on airflow behavior in the final section of the car, bringing benefits in terms of both drag reduction and load stability.
At the same time, changes to the front corner act upstream, improving the quality of airflow traveling along the entire car. By reducing local losses at the front, Mercedes aims to achieve an indirect gain in rear downforce, once again highlighting how crucial flow consistency is across the whole car.
Component – Motivation – Differences – Description
Exhaust (tailpipe) – Performance – Drag reduction – Repositioned exhaust with new slotted support – The exhaust has been rotated downward (away from the rear wing) and fitted with a slotted support to improve local drag and rear aerodynamic load response.
Front corner – Performance – Flow conditioning – Increased front drum lip – The increased front drum lip reduces local losses and improves airflow towards the rear, contributing to higher rear aerodynamic load.
Red Bull
Red Bull brings an extremely integrated and substantial upgrade to Miami, built around a well-established philosophy: focusing on the interaction between components rather than optimizing individual parts in isolation.
The core of the package is the new floor, closely linked to changes on the sidepod inlet and engine cover. The objective is clearly to improve airflow quality along the entire car, increasing downforce without compromising downstream stability.
Notably, the front wing has also been updated, introducing a further evolutionary step in both elements and endplates, showing that Red Bull continues to find performance gains even on already highly refined components.
At the rear, updates to the rear corner and rear wing complete the package, with changes aimed at both efficiency and local airflow management, as well as a refinement of the straight-line activation mechanism.
Component – Motivation – Differences – Description
Front wing – Performance – Local load – Revised element and endplate geometries – Further optimization of the three elements and endplates, now featuring an allowed diveplane, to increase load while maintaining or improving flow stability.
Front corner – Reliability – Revised internal front wheel bodywork surfaces – Inlet and outlet ducts have been redesigned to draw air from high-pressure areas and discharge it with minimal obstruction, improving efficiency and reducing losses.
Sidepod inlet – Performance – Flow conditioning – Revised sidepod inlet and mirror supports – The sidepod inlet and surrounding surfaces have been modified to work with the new floor and engine cover, increasing load while maintaining downstream flow stability.
Coke/engine cover – Performance – Flow conditioning – Surfaces adapted to new sidepod geometry – New bodywork developed alongside the floor and coke line improves flow extraction and aerodynamic stability at the rear.
Floor – Performance – Flow conditioning – Revised bib surfaces – The new floor bib integrates with sidepod and bodywork changes, increasing aerodynamic load while maintaining airflow quality towards the rear.
Rear corner – Performance – Local load – Revised inner wheel bodywork and suspension fairings – Rear suspension fairings have been integrated with the new bodywork to improve efficiency, optimizing brake cooling and local airflow to generate more load.
Rear wing – Performance – Local load – Revised wing attachments for straight mode mechanism – Modified attachments and kinematics allow greater system travel, along with a slight revision of the third element near the centerline.
Ferrari
Ferrari presents one of the most extensive upgrade packages in Miami, with changes affecting almost every area of the car. The central theme is clearly focused on the floor and the quality of airflow feeding it.
The front end has been heavily revised: the front wing, front corner, and suspension work together to improve the management of wheel wake and deliver cleaner airflow towards the center of the car. This is crucial for maximizing the performance of the new floor.
The floor itself, along with the floor edge and diffuser, forms the heart of the upgrade. These modifications are designed to increase downforce across the entire operating range while also improving aerodynamic stability.
At the rear, updates to the beam wing, suspension, and terminal bodywork complete the package, optimizing interaction with the diffuser. The package is finalized by a new rear wing (in the so-called “Macarena” style), designed to balance cornering downforce with reduced drag on the straights.
Component – Motivation – Differences – Description
Front wing endplate – Performance – Local load – Revised outboard footplate channel with added upper vane – Endplate and front corner work together to improve flow stability and manage front wheel wake across the entire operating range.
Front corner – Performance – Flow conditioning – Detailed development of front deflectors with added rear lip – Optimization of upper and lower edges improves flow control and management of turbulence generated by the front wheel.
Front suspension – Performance – Flow conditioning – Reprofiled front suspension arm fairings – Load distribution across the arms has been redefined to improve aerodynamic efficiency while controlling airflow impact towards the rear.
Floor body – Performance – Local load – Optimized central keel volume with new vertical elements – The front floor has been redesigned to exploit improved upstream flow conditions, generating a clear increase in aerodynamic load.
Floor edge – Performance – Local load – Inward extension of outer floor edge scoops – Working in synergy with the front floor, it improves diffuser efficiency and contributes to increased load across all operating conditions.
Diffuser – Performance – Local load – Reprofiled central expansion with new fence and flap details – Development focused on increasing load and efficiency, improving pressure gradient and exit flow stability.
Rear suspension – Performance – Local load – Reprofiled rear trackrod fairing – Helps improve airflow towards the diffuser, working with rear devices to optimize pressure gradient.
Beam wing – Performance – Flow conditioning – Updated inner connection – Revised inner section improves interaction with the diffuser and enhances rear flow stability.
Rear tail – Performance – Local load – Revised terminal bodywork devices and profiles – Optimization of exit flows increases load while maintaining overall efficiency.
Rear wing – Performance – Drag reduction – Reprofiled mainplane and flap with added central support – Development aimed at increasing cornering load while maintaining strong drag reduction on the straights.
Rear wing endplate – Performance – Flow conditioning – Added upwashing volumes and upper endplate details – Improves vortex management and exit flow quality, contributing to both load and efficiency.
Williams
Williams arrives in Miami with an upgrade package focused more on overall efficiency than peak downforce, featuring extensive work on the floor, bodywork, and rear flow management.
The central element is the floor, which has been refined in detail to reduce sensitivity to setup changes and provide a more predictable aerodynamic platform. This is an intervention aimed at improving performance consistency rather than outright peak performance.
Equally interesting is the work carried out on the sidepods and bodywork, where the team is seeking the right balance between cooling and airflow quality—an increasingly critical factor in modern Formula 1 cars. The rear section has also been extensively refined: the exhaust support, fairings, and surrounding structures all work together to clean up airflow and improve integration between components, highlighting a highly methodical development approach.
Component – Motivation – Differences – Description
Floor – Performance – Overall aerodynamic performance – Refined contours, local thickness variations, and updated edges and interfaces – Improves airflow across the floor in all conditions, reducing setup sensitivity and ensuring more consistent downforce across a wide operating range.
Sidepod – Performance – Cooling and central flow – Reprofiled inlet edges and internal/external surfaces – Extends the cooling range while improving airflow quality in the central section, maintaining thermal margins across different track and environmental conditions.
Bodywork (engine cover / coke / cooling exits) – Performance – Rear flow and cooling integration – Revised surfaces and cooling outlets – Improves rear airflow extraction by reducing disturbances, while still meeting thermal dissipation requirements.
Mirror assembly – Performance – Local flow conditioning – Reprofiled and repositioned mirror housings – Optimizes airflow around the cockpit, guiding air along the sidepods and improving downstream bodywork conditions.
Tailpipe bracket – Performance – Rear flow – New profiled support behind the exhaust – Manages the exhaust wake, reducing local flow separation and improving stability in the rear section.
RIS fairings – Performance – Rear flow and integration – New local profiles and connections around the rear impact structure – Cleans up airflow around the rear structure, improving integration with nearby components and reducing losses.
Rear brace wing – Performance – Rear flow and integration – Updated profiles and connection areas – Enhances interaction with adjacent components, ensuring cleaner and more stable airflow towards the rear.
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Racing Bulls brings a targeted update to Miami, primarily focused on the rear section, with coordinated work between suspension, brake ducts, and the rear wing.
The main focus is controlling airflow around the rear wheel, one of the most critical areas on modern Formula 1 cars. Changes to the rear corner and suspension work together to manage turbulence generated by the tire, improving overall floor efficiency.
The floor edge itself has also been revised to improve airflow quality in this highly sensitive area, increasing aerodynamic stability and overall performance.
At the rear, a new rear wing (Macarena-style) and corresponding endplate complete the package. At the front, a more circuit-specific solution appears: a front wing flap designed to expand the available balance range on a track like Miami.
Component – Motivation – Differences – Description
Rear corner – Performance – Flow conditioning – Modified brake duct area profiles – Updates to the winglets improve airflow management in the rear section and around the wheel, optimizing local interactions.
Rear suspension – Performance – Flow conditioning – Updated aerodynamic profiles aligned with rear corner – Suspension arm profiles work together with brake ducts to improve airflow control around the rear tire.
Floor edge – Performance – Flow conditioning – Revised slots in the rear section of the floor edge – Improves airflow quality around the tire contact area, increasing overall floor efficiency.
Rear wing – Performance – Local load – New mainplane and flap profiles – Increases downforce through changes in incidence and curvature while maintaining efficiency suited to the circuit.
Rear wing endplate – Performance – Flow conditioning – Modified camber distribution on the endplate – Works in synergy with the rear wing to improve airflow interaction and increase overall effectiveness.
Front wing – Circuit-specific – Balance range – New reduced-chord flap option – Allows for a lower balance range, adapting the car to the specific demands of the Miami circuit.
Aston Martin
No updates.
Haas
Haas brings a highly targeted update to Miami, focused exclusively on the diffuser area.
The addition of a new element on the floor winglet clearly indicates an effort to influence downforce generation in the final stage of the floor, working on pressure distribution and the energy of the exiting airflow.
This is a visually small intervention, but potentially significant: even minimal changes in this area can have important effects on the car’s overall aerodynamic efficiency.
Component – Motivation – Differences – Description
Diffuser – Performance – Local load – Addition of a device on the floor winglet – The added element modifies pressure distribution and airflow behavior around the diffuser, increasing local aerodynamic load.
Audi
Audi arrives in Miami with a compact yet well-focused upgrade package, targeting two fundamental areas: the front end and the rear section of the floor.
At the front, the work on the suspension and brake ducts is aimed at improving the quality of the airflow traveling along the car, a key factor in correctly feeding the floor and ensuring consistent aerodynamic performance.
At the rear, the modifications to the floor edge and diffuser clearly highlight the main objective: increasing aerodynamic load in the most critical phase of downforce generation, while maintaining good overall efficiency.
Audi updates
Component – Motivation – Differences – Description
Front suspension – Performance – Flow conditioning – New front brake ducts and suspension arm fairings – The revision of the brake ducts and front suspension improves airflow conditioning in the front section, contributing to overall performance.
Floor edge and diffuser – Performance – Local load – New floor edge and diffuser geometry with winglet – The changes to the floor edge and diffuser increase rear aerodynamic load efficiently, improving the car’s overall performance.
Alpine
Alpine brings a fairly comprehensive update to Miami, with interventions distributed between the front and rear, but with a clear focus on improving airflow quality.
At the front, modifications to the front corner and camera mounts highlight very detailed work on airflow conditioning, which is essential for properly feeding the rest of the car.
The rear section, on the other hand, has undergone more structural changes: the reprofiled suspension and the addition of elements on the rear impact structure indicate a clear pursuit of increased aerodynamic load.
The centerpiece of the package is the new rear wing, accompanied by a revised endplate, designed to improve both downforce and overall efficiency.
Alpine updates
Component – Motivation – Differences – Description
Front corner – Performance – Flow conditioning – Revised front drum outlet – The front drum outlet duct has been redesigned to improve airflow quality around the front corner and along the rest of the car.
Nose camera – Performance – Flow conditioning – Modified camera supports – The camera mounts have been reprofiled to improve local airflow management and deliver higher-quality air towards the rear of the car.
Rear suspension – Performance – Flow conditioning – Reprofiled suspension arms – The rear suspension arms have been optimized to improve airflow control in the rear area and increase overall aerodynamic quality.
Rear impact structure – Performance – Local load – Addition of a new element – The new geometry is designed to increase local aerodynamic load efficiently across the entire operating range.
Rear wing – Performance – Local load – Completely new rear wing – A new rear wing specification has been introduced to improve overall aerodynamic performance.
Rear wing endplate – Performance – Local load – Reprofiled endplate – The endplate has been redesigned to work in synergy with the new rear wing, improving airflow interaction and overall efficiency.
Cadillac
Cadillac brings one of the most comprehensive upgrade packages to Miami, with interventions spread across the entire car but clearly focused on improving rear downforce.
At the front, changes to the front wing and mirror supports aim to generate cleaner and more consistent airflow towards the floor, while also reducing sensitivity to setup variations.
The core of the package, however, lies in the floor and diffuser, where numerous changes are designed to increase downforce while maintaining good efficiency and improving behavior across different ride heights.
The rear section has been further refined with updates to the suspension, rear corner, and exhaust support, highlighting an in-depth effort to improve airflow integration across components.
Cadillac updates
Component – Motivation – Differences – Description
Front wing endplate – Performance – Flow conditioning – Updated endplate and reprofiled footplate – Improves airflow conditioning towards the rear, reducing sensitivity to ride height variations and increasing rear downforce.
Front wing flap – Performance – Flow conditioning – New front wing flap profiles – Reduces aerodynamic losses and improves airflow quality directed towards the floor and rear of the car.
Mirror stay – Performance – Flow conditioning – Modified position and profile of mirror support – Improves flow initiation towards the rear and enhances overall aerodynamic quality, while also contributing to structural rigidity.
Forward floorboard – Performance – Local load – Reprofiled with new upper edge details and winglet – Increases aerodynamic load in the rear section of the floor and diffuser, improving sensitivity to ride height.
Floor body – Performance – Local load – Local modifications in the rear floor area with added strake – Increases local aerodynamic load in the floor area ahead of the rear wheel, improving overall performance.
Diffuser – Performance – Local load – Reprofiled winglet, fence, and diffuser shoulder – Increases rear load by improving airflow management and sensitivity to ride height variations.
Rear suspension – Performance – Flow conditioning – Reprofiled rear suspension fairings – Improves airflow quality in the rear area, increasing aerodynamic stability and development potential.
Rear corner – Performance – Local load – Updated rear deflectors, supports, and vanes – Increases local load by improving airflow quality and aerodynamic stability around the rear wheel.
Exhaust tailpipe bracket – Performance – Local load – Updated and repositioned exhaust support – Generates local aerodynamic load and improves airflow characteristics in the final section of the car.
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