Austrian GP Tech Upgrades: Subtle Shifts, Significant Signals

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Analyzing the technical upgrades team-by-team

🟠 McLaren: Refined for flow, tuned for balance

McLaren enters Austria with updates across three connected areas, all aimed at improving aerodynamic consistency and flow quality.

Front Suspension: Fairings are revised to improve how airflow is guided around the chassis and toward the floor. The intent is to increase floor loading consistency while trimming front-end drag on corner entry.
Front Corner: Changes to the aerodynamic shapes around the front wheels are designed to stabilize the airflow from the updated suspension. This reduces turbulence heading toward the sidepods and improves flow over the car mid-corner.
Rear Corner: A revised suspension layout at the rear forces changes to the surrounding bodywork. These adjustments help maintain clearance and keep rear aero surfaces delivering consistent load while the car turns.

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Verdict: These are not dramatic changes. That’s the point. McLaren is refining a well-performing car. In 2025, that’s what front-running looks like.

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🔴 Ferrari: The biggest swing of the weekend

Ferrari brings a full floor update, addressing nearly every major underfloor element.

Floor Fences: These generate controlled vortices that energize airflow under the car. The updated profiles help spread pressure more evenly and manage how airflow moves beneath the chassis in corners.
Floor Body: The reshaped boat section and tunnel expansions aim to speed up and smooth airflow under the floor. This boosts diffuser performance while maintaining stability during direction changes.
Floor Edge: A shorter, re-cambered section at the front edge of the floor helps airflow stay attached as the car turns. This reduces floor stall and helps balance remain predictable.
Diffuser: The redesigned rear volume takes advantage of more consistent airflow coming from the front and middle of the car. This helps maintain suction and rear grip without destabilizing the ride.

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Verdict: This is Ferrari’s most aggressive update since Shanghai, a weekend where they won the Sprint but were disqualified from the Grand Prix for excessive plank wear. The new floor isn’t just about performance. It’s about regaining control of a package that’s proven fast but fragile.

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⚫ Mercedes: Fighting the head

Mercedes is focused on cooling, not aero performance, as temperatures and brake loads rise in the Austrian hills.

‍Front Corner: The front brake ducts are widened to allow more airflow through the assemblies. This helps keep temperatures under control during repeated heavy stops, especially into Turns 1 and 4.
Engine Cover: The rear bodywork is opened up to improve cooling through the sidepod radiators. This ensures engine and battery systems stay within limits over longer stints.

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Verdict: It’s not headline material, but it’s critical. Without this, thermal degradation could compromise race pace or reliability.

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🔵 Red Bull: Marginal, but meaningful

At their home race, Red Bull introduces a local floor edge tweak.

Floor Edge: A revised edge wing with a vent ahead of the rear tire improves airflow as it passes by the floor. This helps maintain downforce and keeps airflow tidy while the car is cornering at speed.

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Verdict: It’s a micro-adjustment, but the kind that matters when you're chasing tenths. They’re not overhauling anything. They’re tuning what already works.

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🔷 Racing Bulls: Aero, not optics

The Racing Bulls arrive with an aero package suited to Austria’s efficiency demands.

Front Wing: A redesigned flap shape improves local airflow over the nose and under the car. The change helps front-end balance stay predictable under braking and turning.
Rear Wing: The updated rear wing profile is built for low drag while still giving the stability needed for mid-speed corners. It also supports better DRS use on the main straight.

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Verdict: Effective, targeted, and quietly progressive. A well-judged update package for a team that continues to extract value.

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🟢 Sauber: Long-term adjustments

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber brings updates that aim to improve performance over a range of circuits, not just this one.

Floor Body: Changes to the mid-floor and outer edges help direct airflow more efficiently to the diffuser. This keeps downforce more stable as the car shifts direction.
Rear Wing: A new high-downforce wing delivers better pressure distribution across the top surface. This boosts cornering grip and makes the car less prone to aero stall at low speeds.

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Verdict: Sauber is playing the long game. Whether they see immediate gains or not, this is part of a bigger aero roadmap.

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❌ No changes from Aston Martin, Alpine, Haas, or Williams

None of the four remaining teams registered car updates this weekend.

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Verdict: For Aston Martin and Alpine, this may signal consolidation. For Haas and Williams, it’s likely a sign of resource focus shifting toward 2026, particularly if their 2025 campaign is already running out of scoring opportunities.

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🔎 What to watch for in Spielberg

If Ferrari’s floor delivers stability and confidence
Whether McLaren stays ahead on top speed and corner entry with their refined aero surfaces
If Mercedes’ cooling upgrades prevent late-race drop-off
If Racing Bulls or Sauber sneak into Q3 with a better balance window

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The sheets might look quiet. But nothing in Formula 1 is small when the margins are this tight.

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