The Spa-Francorchamps Circuit always poses a challenge to engineers and drivers to configure a balanced set-up, given its high-speed first and third sectors, which are disrupted by medium and high-speed corners in the middle sector.
A number of teams have arrived in Belgium with circuit-specific modifications to extract as much potential from their car as possible.
These include new front and rear wing variations, which will help straight-line speed around the 7km circuit.
McLaren has highlighted a number of low downforce changes, starting with the rear and beam wing. A rear wing that produces lower drag has been installed, while the geometry of the beam wing has been altered to decrease drag.
The rear brake duct has also been adapted to reduce drag, while the engine cover and cooling louvres have been modified to match the lower cooling demand at the circuit.
As well as its measures to decrease drag, McLaren has arrived with a modified diffuser and front suspension to improve aerodynamic flow, and an additional winglet has been added to the rear corner assembly.
All other teams will be running new parts at the high-speed Spa track in order to maximise straight-line speed, but there are also other upgrades in the field.
Mercedes has reprofiled its front wing endplate, while there are also upgrades introduced to the floor fence and floor body.
Championship leaders Red Bull have reprofiled its rear suspension shroud, highlighting that it has done so without making any alterations to the original structure.
Alpine has new rear brake ducts to improve airflow around the corner of the car, and there have been a number of minor changes made to its floor fence.
Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri has changed the angle of the wishbone shroud to work better with the new floor it introduced in France, and the upper cascade of winglets on the rear brake duct have been reprofiled, while another winglet has been added above the aforementioned assembly.
The first practice session of the weekend in Spa will get underway at 14:00 local time.
Discussion about this post