McLaren brings upgraded F1 car to Zandvoort after Hungarian GP win
Following Lando Norris's win at the Hungarian Grand Prix, McLaren has brought a new rear wing and upgraded rear brake cooling system to the Dutch race weekend in Zandvoort. The team stresses the importance of reliability and finding the right balance on the demanding circuit.
Ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, McLaren has announced a new technical upgrade package for its car. The update continues the development path launched before the summer break at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Lando Norris claimed his first win of the season.
For Zandvoort, the team has brought a new rear wing along with a redesigned rear brake cooling system. McLaren's engineering director Neil Houldey commented on the changes, noting that after the strong result in Hungary, the team is well aware of the fierce competition and the importance of reliability going forward.
Lessons from the first half of the season
Houldey said the team learned a great deal during the first half of the season, both about how to drive the car to extract maximum performance and how to manage issues encountered early in the year. Alongside this, the team has worked hard on continuous development, with this weekend's parts focused on the rear of the car, completing the package introduced in Hungary.
Zandvoort's engineering challenges
Houldey noted that Zandvoort presents a unique engineering challenge due to its banked corners, fast sectors, hilly layout and wind, which can make the car unpredictable to handle. One of the main focuses for the weekend will be finding the right balance between stiffness and performance across the track's bumpier sections, while optimising aerodynamic settings and ride height during practice.
He also explained how the 2026 technical regulations will affect driving at Zandvoort — cornering speeds are expected to be lower due to reduced downforce, while straight-line speed should increase thanks to greater power and reduced drag. This changes how drivers approach different parts of the track, making practice sessions crucial for refining energy deployment and adapting to potential weather challenges.
McLaren has won the last two editions of the Dutch Grand Prix — Norris triumphed in 2024, while Oscar Piastri won last year.
