Spa is all about efficiency: Ferrari brings no upgrades
At Spa-Francorchamps, engine performance and aerodynamic efficiency are expected to play the biggest role in determining the competitive order. With its long straights and only two truly demanding braking zones, the Belgian circuit rewards cars capable of minimizing drag without sacrificing stability through the high-speed sections.
That is why none of the Formula 1 teams has brought a major development package to the Belgian Grand Prix. Instead, Hungary before the summer break, and especially Zandvoort after the holidays, have been chosen by many teams as the preferred venues to introduce more substantial upgrades. That does not mean, however, that nothing has changed. Most teams have focused on targeted developments, particularly rear wings and low-downforce aerodynamic configurations.
McLaren introduces an updated power unit
The most significant update this weekend comes from McLaren. The Woking-based team has introduced a new rear wing and, more importantly, an updated power unit, with the changes aimed primarily at improving reliability.
The engine replacement will result in a ten-place grid penalty for Lando Norris, as already confirmed by the team. McLaren’s objective is twofold: to benefit from a fresher power unit while also putting the reliability concerns that have affected the MCL40 during the opening part of the season behind them.
McLaren has also been running two different rear wing specifications at Spa, one with a lower-downforce configuration and another with more aerodynamic load, highlighting the team’s search for the ideal balance between top speed and cornering performance.
Red Bull takes a step back
Red Bull has also arrived with a change, although in the opposite direction. Following the problems that first emerged in Austria and were confirmed at Silverstone, the technical department led by Pierre Waché has decided to return to the team’s previous rear wing configuration, abandoning the newer solution.
Ferrari sticks with its current setup as the new “Macarena” waits
Ferrari, meanwhile, is not expected to introduce the latest evolution of its “Macarena” rear wing just yet. The design has been ready at Maranello for some time, but its availability still depends on production timelines for the latest specification, meaning a potential race debut could only be decided at the last minute.
Internal simulations suggest the new component could deliver a gain of around 3 km/h in top speed thanks to improved aerodynamic efficiency. For now, however, the SF-26 will continue to use the version first introduced at the Miami Grand Prix, which has produced encouraging results so far.
Ferrari’s expectations for Spa remain cautious. Under normal conditions, the Belgian circuit—with its exceptional length and very limited number of heavy braking zones—continues to reward the superior management and deployment of electrical energy from the power unit, an area in which Mercedes still holds an advantage that remains difficult to overcome.
If the weather becomes unpredictable, however, the competitive picture could change significantly, potentially opening the door to different strategic opportunities.
During the practice sessions, the SF-26 is also expected to return to the track without the so-called FTM, the small aerodynamic flap positioned behind the exhaust. Following comparative tests carried out in Austria and further evaluations during the Madring filming day, Ferrari’s engineers appear to favour this configuration on high-efficiency circuits, with the aim of reducing drag even further and extracting the maximum performance from the power unit.
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