McLaren will introduce an upgraded Mercedes power unit and a new rear wing assembly at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. The team aims to enhance performance at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, a track known for its power sensitivity. This could affect Max Verstappen’s race prospects.
Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will utilize the revised power unit specification. This upgrade was initially developed by Mercedes as a reliability enhancement. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli debuted the engine in Austria.
Alpine and Williams, also Mercedes customer teams, adopted the updated power unit at Silverstone. McLaren was the final customer team to implement this change. The delay was due to maximizing usable mileage on existing power units.
McLaren had experienced reliability issues earlier this season. Lando Norris encountered a battery problem in Monaco. Both Norris and Piastri failed to start the Chinese Grand Prix due to power unit glitches.
Neil Houldey, McLaren’s Technical Director of Applied Engineering, confirmed the introduction of the upgraded power unit and the new rear wing. He stated the team is confident the update will add ‘a bit of performance’ to the car.
However, Houldey cautioned against expecting a significant shift in competitiveness. He noted the team’s difficult British Grand Prix, particularly concerning outright pace. Spa-Francorchamps presents a demanding challenge for energy management.
The circuit is considered one of the most energy-starved tracks on the Formula 1 calendar. Extensive simulation work has been conducted to prepare for the demanding weekend. An unpredictable weather forecast also suggests potential wet conditions.
Max Verstappen, currently seventh in the drivers’ standings, experienced a technical failure at the recent British Grand Prix. Spa-Francorchamps is a circuit where Red Bull has historically performed strongly.
Speculation continues regarding Verstappen’s future, with reports of a performance-related exit clause in his Red Bull contract. This clause would activate if he falls outside the top two in the championship by the summer break.
This scenario is now mathematically impossible. His long-standing race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, is reportedly set to join McLaren by 2028. This adds to ongoing driver market discussions.
McLaren, despite Lando Norris winning the 2025 Drivers’ title, has faced challenges this season. The team was Mercedes’ closest competitor before the European season.
They have been the slowest frontrunner in three of the last four Grands Prix. McLaren is currently 154 points behind the title leader.
Both Norris and Piastri are adapting to the 2026 regulations, which involve increased cockpit workload and more simulator time. Oscar Piastri expects full equality with Norris for the current 2026 season.
The team’s focus remains on maximizing performance with the new components at Spa.
