As Crash.net reports, the development race in Formula 1 has kicked into high gear for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with heavyweights McLaren and Red Bull rolling out substantial technical packages alongside major moves from Williams and Audi.
Reigning world champions McLaren have arrived with a massive eight-part update designed to chip away at the performance deficit to Mercedes. The Woking-based squad has essentially executed a complete overhaul of the MCL40 bodywork. That includes reworked sidepod inlets, a redesigned engine cover, modifications to the diffuser and rear suspension, plus tweaks to the floor edge and rear wing, alongside the redeployment of their H-Wing. McLaren currently sits third in the constructors' championship, trailing Mercedes by 197 points and sitting 52 points adrift of second-placed Ferrari, with Ferrari notably being among five teams that brought zero updated components to Baku.
They’re significant if they work, so let’s see how it goes. We have to be honest with ourselves, we know what it should do on paper,
Meanwhile, Red Bull has countered with five new updates for the RB22, with only one of those changes attributed to reliability reasons. Their revised machine features modifications to the floor body, the diffuser, the sidepods, the mirrors, and the Halo.
Away from the front-running battle, the midfield development war has intensified dramatically, courtesy of massive packages from both Williams and Audi. Williams has brought an almost entirely new car to the track, equipping the FW48 with an updated floor, floor body, and floor corner, alongside changes to the front corner, suspension cladding, and rear brake duct furniture. The British squad is hoping this substantial push will shove them firmly into the upper midfield.
“They’re significant if they work, so let’s see how it goes. We have to be honest with ourselves, we know what it should do on paper,” Alex Albon said on Wednesday. “I think the weight’s been a big talking point, and normally weight’s a guarantee, so hopefully it’s going to put us in a good place. The team have done a massive job back at the factory. To do a chassis change in the middle of a season is not easy, and so it’s putting us in a good place. Whether that’s to fight the midfield now, time will tell.”
Topping the entire grid in terms of sheer volume, Audi has introduced a staggering 14 new parts listed on the FIA’s car submissions document. This sweeping list of modifications—which encompasses a new front wing, endplate, nose, front and rear suspension, reworked bodywork, and a new floor—effectively transforms their 2026 machine into a B-spec R26.
