Several changes for Mercedes and McLaren: here is the list of optimizations at Spa

Red Bull’s improvements

Red Bull has made modifications to its engine cover (Coke/Engine Cover). The team has opted for a reduced cooling range at the cooling outlet in front of the rear upper struts. With this slight revision, “the geometric consequences adapt to the cooling needs in relatively cool ambient conditions, which are usually encountered on the Belgian circuit,” Red Bull writes.

Ferrari’s improvements

In Spa, Ferrari aims to improve the performance of its rear wing by reducing drag. The upper and lower rear wings are thus adjusted for low-downforce tracks. “This update includes upper and lower rear wing profiles that specifically reduce aerodynamic downforce, designed to adapt to the characteristics of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit and efficiency requirements,” explains the Scuderia.

The improvements of Mercedes

Toto Wolff’s team is far from arriving in Belgium empty-handed. It brings with it no less than four changes to the car. First of all, it hopes to improve the reliability of the sidepod inlet (pontoon), with a higher inlet which should improve the quality of the airflow to the sidepod radiators, for better engine cooling.

Like Red Bull, Mercedes also improves the performance of its engine cover: it increases the curvature of the side “Coke” tube to “improve the flow towards the rear of the car, especially the rear wing which gains in downforce and drag,” Mercedes indicates.

Then, the team focuses on the performance of the floor, with small modifications to the distribution of the volume underneath the floor. “This allows for extracting more local load from the front floor vortex system, which improves flow towards the diffuser,” according to the German brand.

Finally, Mercedes plans to improve the performance of the rear wing, with reduced cord length and curvature, resulting in less downforce and drag than usual – suitable for low-drag tracks like Spa.

Alpine’s improvements

Alpine has also made some modifications in hopes of finally avoiding bad luck this weekend. The French team has improved the front wing to specifically suit the circuit, with a larger cutout on the front wing flap. This is expected to result in a “reduction in aerodynamic load on the front wing flap to adapt to the reduced downforce level of the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit,” according to Alpine.

It also improves the floor’s performance, with a revision of the front barriers, ramps, and the smoother cut profile of the diffuser. This should result in increased downforce thanks to the accumulation of several small local improvements.

McLaren’s improvements

McLaren continues its momentum of optimizations and brings three new ones to Spa. One of them is a new unloaded rear beam geometry, which efficiently transfers the load from the rear beam to the main plane of the rear wing, aiming to reduce aerodynamic drag and load.

A rear wing endplate has also been modified with a different side view shape, which reduces the load on the main rear wing and should effectively reduce aerodynamic drag and load.

Finally, she incorporates two different end plates on the trailing edge of the rear wing element, resulting in a reduction in aerodynamic drag and load.

Alfa Romeo’s improvements

Alfa Romeo has reworked the profiles of the front wing flaps to balance the rear wings in order to meet the specific requirements of the Spa circuit. They are doing the same with the rear wing: it is now a low drag rear wing, including the main plane and end plates, which allows the team to minimize drag on the Spa circuit. As part of this specific update to the rear wing, the rear end beam is available in two versions – with and without the upper element. This allows for further adaptation to the specific requirements of the Spa circuit.

Aston Martin’s improvements

At Aston Martin, the floor edge has been updated to subtly revise the geometry, with a similar concept. Small changes have been made to the features generated from the floor edge to improve their interaction and, consequently, the local load on the underside of the floor.

Aston Martin also introduces a new rear wing plate with reduced drag on the low drag rear wing, adapted to the circuit’s characteristics. This plate can be used but is defined by the chosen configuration. Finally, the team reduces the downforce of the beam wing and therefore the drag to adapt to the circuit’s characteristics.

AlphaTauri’s improvements

Compared to the previous assembly at this drag level, the ends of the rear wing have been modified to increase the size of the cutouts. “The increased size of the cutouts results in an effective increase in the local load of the entire upper wing by increasing the load at the end,” predicts AlphaTauri.

Williams improvements

The car has new shorter winglets on the rear brake ducts. “They work in synergy with the entire rear wing to effectively modify the range of downforce/drag of the car for the Belgian Grand Prix,” explains the team.