Red Bull Racing take most of the update limelight at the Hungarian Grand with the 2023 FIA Formula One Constructors’ World Championship leaders bringing a new sidepod inlet layout, a new engine cover and a subtly revised floor design to the Hungaroring, as well as minor, circuit-specific changes to the brake ducts. 

The new sidepods feature a broader and shallower inlet to achieve a further increase of the aspect ratio (the ratio between the length and the average width of the surface). According to the team, the revision improves the pressure at the entry to the radiator duct and therefore the cooling efficiency ahead of one of the more difficult circuits for car cooling. 

The new sidepod has also led to changes to the engine cover, with a wider sidepod panel being necessary. This utilises the greater inlet pressure to exploit improvements in that area. The gains extend to the rear suspension and also means the exit path of cooling air is also altered. The re-shaped sidepod has led to subtle floor edges changes, and according to the team that has brought some additional downforce. 

In addition to those larger changes, Red Bull have also brought enlarged front and rear brake ducts to cope with the tight and twisting nature of the Hungaroring. 

The champions’ sister team AlphaTauri have also brought a number of upgrades to this race, building on the major update unveiled at the British Grand Prix two weeks ago. There the Faenza squad brought a new floor, diffuser, engine cover, rear wing and beam wing in pursuit of increased downforce and here in Hungary the team has turned its attention to the front of the AT04. 

A new front wing, featuring raised central elements, has been designed for more efficient generation of downforce, while changes to the outboard flap should lead to more favourable interaction between the front wing and front wheel wake losses, improving flow to the rest of the car.

After evaluation of the new floor, AlphaTauri have also made the central part of the rear floor wider, which should boost downforce levels. Small changes have also been made to the rear wing tip to improve local load.  

Mercedes, too, brought a major front wing update to Silverstone and here in Hungary, the W14 E gets a further front wing tweak, this time to the endplate, which is designed to improve flow to the rear of the car. 

The Silver Arrows have also made changes to the car’s front suspension, reducing camber to improve flow quality along the chassis side and on to the front of the floor, resulting in increased floor load. There are also circuit-specific changes to the rear wing, with a cut-out on the wing tip to boost aerodynamic grip on a circuit requiring maximum downforce. 

Alpine have also brought a revised front wing to Budapest. A larger front wing flap complements the front wing mainplane used in Silverstone for the first time in order to rebalance the higher rear downforce level being used this weekend. 

At Ferrari, there are also changes to the front wing, though again, the reprofiled flap and a full span gurney have been added purely to cope with the demands of the Hungaroring. 

Aston Martin have altered the engine cover of the AMR22, with a large exit area increasing the volume of cooling flow exited from the bodywork, while Haas this weekend will debut a revised floor body, designed to improve flow underneath the VF-23.

There are no changes at McLaren, Alfa Romeo or Williams, all of whom introduced major updates in recent weeks.