F1 – Tech updates at the Austrian Grand Prix
At each Grand Prix, teams submit to the FIA a list of all major aerodynamic and bodywork components and assemblies that have not been run at a previous event. This car presentation provides a unique insight into the different development paths being taken over the course of the season.
As Formula 1 heads into a double-header weekend on two contrasting circuits there will be a mixture of minor and major upgrades up and down the grid. For the challenges of the short and technical Red Bull Ring, home of this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix, McLaren brings the most extensive suite of changes to its car, with the sidepod inlet, floor body and engine cover the most significant components changing ahead of this action-packed Sprint event. They will also change elements of the halo fairing as well as the cooling louvre geometry.
Ferrari have accelerated their upgrade programme to bring some quite significant changes to the front wing design and the floor – with floor fences, edges, and the mid-floor and diffuser sidewalls being reprofiled as well as a redesign of the sidepod undercut all aiming to improve the Scuderia’s performance in a bid to return to the top step of the podium as they did with Charles Leclerc at this circuit last year.
Austria is a home race for championship leaders Red Bull Racing, who have brought an update to the rear suspension with the aim of improving local air flow stability. AlphaTauri have similarly brought changes to the rear of the car, however their updates focus on the rear wing and beam wing assemblies, and they also have a new design for their cooling louvres to increase the maximum cooling range of the bodywork at this circuit.
Several other teams have brought minor updates, including Williams who have modified floor edge and front brake ducts, while Haas has a new pitot installation on the nose of the car for reliability purposes. Mercedes, Alpine, Alfa Romeo and Aston Martin have not declared any changes for Austria.
You can see the full list of changes below as submitted by the teams, and keep an eye out for the next round of changes ahead of the different challenges posed by the Silverstone Circuit next week for the 2023 FIA Formula 1 British Grand Prix.