McLaren F1 News: FIA statement confirms MAJOR change at Mexican GP

Mexican Grand Prix

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FIA statement confirms MAJOR McLaren change

The FIA have confirmed a major change for McLaren at the Mexican GP

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Saturday 26 October 2024 09:12

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A statement released by the FIA has confirmed a major change for McLaren at the Mexican Grand Prix.

F1’s race at the US Grand Prix last time out proved to be a difficult weekend for the papaya team, despite Lando Norris having started on pole position.

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However, the Brit lost his lead on the opening lap to Max Verstappen and both Ferraris, with Norris having to battle his championship rival for third during the closing stages of the race.

As the McLaren star attempted to overtake Verstappen, both drivers went off the track at Turn 12, with Norris claiming P3 when they returned, but later slammed with a five-second time penalty from the FIA for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen's battle resulted in a penalty at COTA

Lando Norris eventually finished P4 at COTA

McLaren introduce Mexican GP upgrades

Norris finished the race in fourth and lost crucial points in his title battle with Verstappen, who extended his lead in the drivers’ standings to 57 points.

In the build up to the Mexican GP, McLaren revealed that they had submitted a petition for a right of review on the penalty imposed in Austin.

As the team awaits the FIA's decision over the petition, McLaren return to Mexico City with various upgrades approved by the governing body.

One of their main changes is to the floor of the machinery, which has been upgraded for the first time since the Miami GP, which produced race-winning results for the team with Norris' maiden victory.

“The floor design has been heavily revised, with geometric changes in all areas, resulting in an increase of aerodynamic load across all conditions,” a statement from the FIA read.

The new McLaren floor will reportedly only be introduced on Norris’ car this weekend, and is said to have been added after Pato O’Ward’s FP1 session behind the wheel on Friday.

Alongside rival F1 teams on the grid such as Ferrari, McLaren have also introduced track-specific upgrades with a ‘high cooling sidepod design’, increasing the cooling louvre area to enable additional airflow in order to cater to the unique atmospheric conditions of Mexico City.