Front wings take centre stage in the upgrade lists at this weekend 2023 FIA Formula 1 British Grand Prix, though for a couple of teams, revisions to the win form just one part of a larger suite of updates. 

At the top of the front wing list are Mercedes. The Silver Arrows have brought a heavily revised front wing to Silverstone with changes made across the wing to improve distribution of loads in both chord flow (the line from leading to trailing edge) and across the span of the wing itself. According to Mercedes the redesign should result in redistribution of front wing wake downstream improving flow to the bodywork and floor. 

Alpine also have a revised front wing for the British Grand Prix. It has made changes to the main plane, flap and the end plates, with its engineers stating that the new wing has been designed to give better low-speed management of the wake and to reduce losses inboard of the front tyre.

Aston Martin, too, have a changed front wing here. From its newly-constructed based across the road from Silverstone circuit, the team has brought a wing with a new flap designed to reduce load on the front wing with the intention of providing better balance its AMR23 when the team is employing a rear wing with a lower level of downforce, as at high-speed Silverstone. Aston Martin has also brought changed rear brake duct inlets to improve cooling.

Williams have also made a minor change to the front wing of the FW45, improving flow to the floor, and have brought a circuit-specific rear wing.  

The McLaren also have a new front wing at their home event, though this time the front wing is just one part of another raft of updates for the Woking team. In Austria it debuted changes to the sidepod, halo, floor and the engine cover and here in Silverstone the team has turned its attention to the front and rear of the MCL60. 

A ‘completely revised front wing assembly’ features new elements as well as end plate geometry, aimed at better flow control and increased load, while a new nose assembly has been designed to work in sympathy with the new wing. Meanwhile, at the rear of the car McLaren have revised the winglets of the its brake ducts to produce more load and changes have been made to the rear suspension to achieve the same goal.  

Alfa Romeo have also brought a major aerodynamic upgrade to this race and this weekend the C43 will feature a new floor body as well as changed floor fences, a new diffuser, redesigned rear brake ducts and revised rear suspension covers. The Hinwil squad say the package is designed to improve flow and maximise load in cornering. 

AlphaTauri, too, have brought a major upgrade to the UK. In Thursday’s Official FIA Press Conference Yuki Tsunoda said that the AT04 has “really poor straight line speed” and that it doesn’t “have much load”. To address this, the Faenza squad has brought a new floor, floor fences, floor edge and has altered the diffuser, all in pursuit of more downforce. Additionally, the team is bringing a new engine cover, rear wing and beam wing, and has made changes to the rear suspension. 

Elsewhere, Haas’s biggest change for Silverstone is the introduction of a new beam wing. The team made changes to top elements of its rear wing a couple of races ago and this weekend brings in complementary changes to the lower assembly to further improve flow and to work better with the diffuser. The US team has also made minor changes to the front suspension and front brake ducts of the VF-23. 

Champions Red Bull have only made minor, circuit-specific changes to the front brake ducts of the RB19, while Ferrari have nothing new at this event. 

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, which will be brought to a circuit that poses a very different set of the challenges to fast and flowing Silverstone, with the next round taking place at the tight and twisting Hungaroring, home of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix.