McLaren still assessing full potential of Baku aero package ahead of Singapore FP1

Before first practice at the Singapore Grand Prix, McLaren’s technical director for engineering, Neil Houldey, said the aerodynamic package fitted in Baku seemed to be delivering the loads the team expected. He added that McLaren still needed to understand whether it was fully exploiting the package’s performance opportunity.

Separately, Motorsport.com described McLaren as the fourth-fastest team at Sepang the previous weekend and suggested its lack of performance might have been linked to how the car’s aerodynamics interacted with the exceptionally rough track surface. Houldey said the team’s recent competitive position suggested it could use further developments, but that McLaren first needed to understand its latest package fully.

Houldey said McLaren’s only planned Singapore upgrade was new front brake-duct scoops and exits for additional cooling. He said the larger parts would slow the car; the team planned to test them in practice before deciding whether they were needed for the rest of the weekend.