Reporting note: this article draws on Sky Sports; PGLive provides the summary and editorial framing.
McLaren Targeting Performance Gains
McLaren has confirmed a two-stage development plan for the upcoming Belgian and Hungarian Grands Prix. The team will introduce a new rear wing at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, followed by a more comprehensive upgrade package at the Hungaroring. These updates arrive as the team looks to recover from a difficult run of form, having fallen 154 points behind Mercedes in the Constructors' Championship.
Technical director Neil Houldey has tempered expectations for the Belgian round, noting that while the new rear wing should provide a marginal performance boost, the team does not anticipate a dramatic shift in competitiveness immediately. In addition to aerodynamic changes, both MCL40 cars will be fitted with their third internal combustion engine (ICE) of the season, featuring updated specifications from Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains aimed at improving reliability.
Mercedes Focuses on Reliability
While McLaren chases the front-runners, championship leaders Mercedes are addressing their own mechanical vulnerabilities. Despite holding a 78-point lead over Ferrari, team principal Toto Wolff has highlighted recent reliability failures—including engine issues for Kimi Antonelli and George Russell—as a critical area for improvement before the summer break.
"We have a car capable of fighting at the front, but we have not converted that potential into the best possible results," Wolff stated. Mercedes aims to stabilize their performance during this final double-header before the four-week summer shutdown.
The Belgian Grand Prix weekend begins with practice sessions on Friday, followed by qualifying on Saturday and the main race on Sunday.
