Mclaren's no-show in updates: Disadvantage for Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes in Barcelona?

Mclaren not bringing updates to their front wing this weekend is bad news for competitors- particularly as rival teams like Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes have rolled out new parts, especially in light of the FIA’s recent clampdown on front wing flexion.

Front wing flexion helps mitigate the side effects of ground effect regulations, such as understeer in low-speed corners and oversteer during high-speed cornering.

The Scuderia team that currently lies fourth in the constructors has brought to the track 2 new updated components. During a weekend where the FIA's clampdown on front wing flexion is in the spotlight, Ferrari have introduced updates to both their front and rear wings—changes they believe could make a significant difference to their performance.

One update is circuit specific, with the rear wing aiming to improve the performance of the car in Barcelona.

Red Bull Racing, like several other teams, have introduced updates to their front wing. The revised design aims to increase stiffness with minimal weight gain and has been further refined to achieve the desired load characteristics.

This is the only update that the Milton Keynes based team has brought to the track this weekend ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix.

The German team have opted to bring 3 updates to Barcelona this weekend, all of which mostly focus on the general performance of the car except for the updates to the rear wing which aims to trike a balance between drag and downforce.

Mercedes has increased the chord of the floor edge wing and added new vane elements. These modifications are designed to boost mass airflow under the forward section of the floor, enhancing the vorticity shed from the fence system. The inboard floor fence has been redesigned to deliver better local pressure distribution and control over vorticity.