The McLaren and AlphaTauri Formula 1 teams have brought significant upgrades to the French Grand Prix weekend in a bid to improve their pace.
McLaren currently sits fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, tied on 81 points with Alpine, while AlphaTauri has endured a more difficult season, occupying eighth in the standings.
McLaren has arrived at the Circuit Paul Ricard as it looks to make strides forward and clear their rivals behind.
The team has addressed a reliability concern with its rear wing, with a modified endplate installed to stomp out the issue.
Some of the changes that McLaren has made for the weekend are circuit-specific, with modifications made to the sidepod cooling louvres and rear brake ducts to improve car cooling.
In addition, with Europe currently enduring a severe heatwave, McLaren has made changes to its engine cover, with the difference between “trims on the sidepods engine cover”.
The team says that “due to the high ambient temperatures in Central Europe, additional cooling emergency options have been released for this event to ensure reliable running of the Power Unit fluids”.
Other performance changes include a new sidepod design, an updated floor and a new rear brake duct scoop winglet.
While other teams have arrived with minor changes, AlphaTauri has brought a sizeable portion of upgrades to the French GP event.
This includes a major alteration to the floor, with changes to its body, edge and fences.
As well as that, more aft camber has been added to the car’s diffuser, while the OB shoulder of its engine cover has been made taller and wider, which it says will improve the flow of air to the rear of the car. It also works in conjunction with the new floor edge.
Elsewhere on the grid, a number of teams have brought upgrades to the floors of their cars, including Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, Alpine, Aston Martin and Williams.
