McLaren missing as Red Bull and Ferrari respond to new F1 rule change

McLaren has not declared any visible front wing changes to the FIA as the updated flexi-wing regulation comes into force in F1 this weekend.

The same is true of Mercedes, although the Toto Wolff-led team made the required updates at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, getting ahead of the curve of its competitors.

Meanwhile, both Red Bull and Ferrari have submitted upgrades to that part of their cars in the official disclosure document.

The Milton Keynes-based squad has revised the first and second elements of its front wing, with the flaps and tips also impacted.

The description provided states: "In order to comply with the revisions to the 2025 F1 Technical Regulations applicable from the Spanish GP, the front wing geometry has been revised to gain stiffness at minimal weight cost and then iterated to pursue the load characteristics sought."

The Italian team has amended its endplates and outboard tip rolls, along with an "update of chordwise and spanwise loading distribution of the wing elements".

Aston Martin, Haas, Racing Bulls and Williams have all filed changes with the motorsport governing body to comply with the new technical directive (TD018H).

Interestingly, Stake has made changes to its front wing, but it does not explicitly mention the new rules in its justification for the update, which is a "small change to the transition between the mainplane" and endplate.

Other updates

Unsurprisingly, there has been a spate of other developments introduced at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which is anticipated to be one of the last upgrade points, if not the final one, for teams before attention turns to the 2026 regulations overhaul.

Ferrari has brought a track-specific rear wing to Spain. It is the model carried over from the end of 2024 - and made available at Imola recently - with slight alterations to improve local airflow and to increase the efficiency of high downforce load.

Mercedes has also submitted a new, circuit-specific rear wing, with "reprofiled mainplane and flap elements" to gaining downforce and drag.

In addition to this, the Brackley-based team has updated its floor fences to aid flow conditioning.

Alpine has updated the floor of its car and, like Mercedes, has reprofiled the floor fence as well.

Racing Bulls will use a new nose this weekend. The Faenza outfit has confirmed the "lower surface of the nose has been raised whilst the tip has been lowered."

This change is a consequence of the alterations it has made to its front wing, which includes and update to the connection between the tips and endplates of that part of the VCARB 02.

Williams has submitted two circuit-specific updates in addition to the front wing changes: A revised rear corner, which sees a change to the geometry of the rear brake ducts, and an optional cooling louvre panel.

Lastly, Stake has upgraded its floor and engine cover design. The complementary changes aid local load performance and improved air flow.