McLaren bring most extensive car update to Singapore Grand Prix

McLaren is the only team to have brought multiple updates to their car for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.

The team describes its six-part upgrade as a “comprehensive update to the bodywork and floor”. The sidepod and floor area of the MCL36 has been extensively revised and the team will also test an update to its diffuser.

A further update to the MCL36 is aimed at enhancing the cooling of its front brakes at a track which is especially tough for braking. McLaren encountered serious problems with their front brakes in pre-season testing which forced extensive changes to this area of the car.

Their closest championship rivals Alpine are among the others who have brought revisions to their car this weekend. Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon will run their updated floor, which sporting director Alan Permane predicted would bring a “massive” increase in downforce.

Red Bull, AlphaTauri, Aston Martin and Williams have also brought revisions to their cars. Mercedes, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Haas have no updates this weekend.

2022 Singapore Grand Prix F1 teams’ updates

Changes to the cars as described by the teams to the FIA.

Red Bull

Updated component: Floor Fences
Primary reason for update: Performance – Local load
Geometric differences compared to previous version: Subtly reprofiled floor fences
Brief description of how the update works: The changes are aimed at improving the aerodynamic stability of the floor fences in all operating conditions to gain and maintain aerodynamically generated loads.

McLaren

Updated component: Sidepod Inlet
Primary reason for update: Performance – Local load
Geometric differences compared to previous version: At this event, we are introducing a comprehensive update to the bodywork and floor. The main sidepod changes are a revised inlet and forward coke line.
Brief description of how the update works: This upgrade is a continuation of the development steps that we introduced in Barcelona, then France. The bodywork and floor have been developed together to increase downforce through a range of conditions.

Updated component: Floor Body
Primary reason for update: Performance – Local load
Geometric differences compared to previous version: The updated floor geometry features revisions to the floor inlet and the underfloor tunnels.
Brief description of how the update works: The revisions to the floor inlet and tunnels, together with the floor fences are aimed at increasing the overall floor load without a drag penalty, increasing aerodynamic efficiency.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

Updated component: Floor Fences
Primary reason for update: Performance – Local load
Geometric differences compared to previous version: All of the forward floor fences have been redesigned.
Brief description of how the update works: In order to extract performance from the main floor body changes, all of the fences have seen revisions.

Updated component: Diffuser
Primary reason for update: Performance – Local load
Geometric differences compared to previous version: We have an option of a centre diffuser boat tail for the updated floor, which we may test at this event.
Brief description of how the update works: The change to the centre diffuser, which is a test item, changes the local flow behaviour seen with changes in ride heights.

Updated component: Cooling Louvres
Primary reason for update: Circuit specific – Cooling range
Geometric differences compared to previous version: The change in bodywork requires revised bodywork cooling louvres, which are also in line with the expected high ambient temperatures for this event.
Brief description of how the update works: The louvres allow us to tune the PU cooling for different tracks and ambient conditions, and are designed to minimise losses in the flow seen at the rear of the car, which in turn reduces the effect on rear downforce when we increase cooling.

Updated component: Front Corner
Primary reason for update: Circuit specific – Cooling range
Geometric differences compared to previous version: We have brought a larger front brake duct to this event.
Brief description of how the update works: Singapore is one of the highest braking demand tracks this year, so to increase front brake cooling we have brought a new brake duct with a larger inlet, increasing the cooling airflow to the discs.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

Alpine

Updated component: Floor Body
Primary reason for update: Performance – Flow conditioning
Geometric differences compared to previous version: Addition of an underfloor ridge and revised floor edge geometry.
Brief description of how the update works: Improved vortex management under the floor and from the floor edge as well as improved tyre squirt control. Both cars will run the new floor during the weekend.

AlphaTauri

Updated component: Front Wing
Primary reason for update: Performance – Flow conditioning
Geometric differences compared to previous version: The lower surface of the first element of the front wing inboard now runs through smoothly to form the lower surface of the nose. The chord of the first element has also been increased outboard.
Brief description of how the update works: The changes to the inboard part of the wing are designed to increase the loading in this region and provide better flow conditioning to the forward floor. The outboard changes improve the control of the front wheel wakes.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

Aston Martin

Updated component: Floor Edge
Primary reason for update: Performance – Flow conditioning
Geometric differences compared to previous version: Subtle changes to the geometry along the edge of the floor, with an addition of a notch towards the rear.
Brief description of how the update works: The revised geometry makes local improvements to the flow management and hence improves local load as well as downstream performance.

Williams

Updated component: Rear Corner
Primary reason for update: Reliability
Geometric differences compared to previous version: None
Brief description of how the update works: Update to the material and construction of the rear brake duct winglets to improve durability. The geometry is identical to the previous version

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

2022 Singapore Grand Prix

• Alfa Romeo expect another step from Zhou after confirming 2023 deal
• Closest three-team pole fight for almost 20 years in Singapore
• F1 teams back race control’s decisions on delayed start and DRS activation
• It’s “game over” if F1 fails first “vital test” of budget cap rules – Ferrari
• Mercedes discover how to bring “a big chunk of performance” to 2023 car

Browse all 2022 Singapore Grand Prix articles