Both McLaren cars will be fitted with the newest Mercedes Formula 1 engine for the Belgian Grand Prix, arriving just two rounds after the specification first appeared on the works Mercedes at the Austrian round. The updated power unit, which debuted with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell in Austria and was later used by Alpine and Williams at Silverstone, was delayed for McLaren because the team still had mileage to extract from its existing units after a string of reliability problems earlier in the season, including battery failures that stopped Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri from starting the Chinese GP.
For Spa, McLaren will also run a brand‑new rear‑wing assembly, slated for testing during Friday’s practice sessions. Technical director Neil Houldey said the team has relied on extensive simulation work to manage the demanding energy‑budget weekend and expects the wing upgrade to provide a modest performance boost, though he cautioned that the race will still be challenging after a difficult British Grand Prix.
Looking ahead, McLaren has hinted at a “significant” upgrade package for the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, signalling a shift in development direction as the team seeks to improve competitiveness.
