PICTURED: The upgrades in the McLaren v Alpine midfield battle

F1 is back after a lengthy break and the development battle is on with midfield rivals McLaren and Alpine introducing a raft of upgrades for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
McLaren MCL60 rear diffuser and rear wing detail. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku Street
McLaren MCL60 rear diffuser and rear wing detail. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4,…

Starting with McLaren🤪, the Woking outfit have been pinning their hopes on this Baku upgrade after failing to hit their development goals over the winter break.

McLaren were very open ahead of F1 2023 with how far behind t🔴hey were, with their prediction becoming a reality with no points scored in the opening two races.

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Australia was positive for McLaren as 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lando Norris and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Oscar Piastri scored big points🐻 to move the team ahead of Alpine in the constructoꩲrs’ championship.

With a substantial upgrade available for this weekend in Baku, McLaren will𝔍 be hoping it can turn their season around.

Their u🌼pgrade includes a new floor and 💃a heavily modified rear wing.

Speaking during 🅠Sky Sports' F1 coverage, Ted Kravtiz gave his view on McLaren’s new parts.

“This is the car McLaren wanted to start the season with. It’s got a new front wing. The crucial thing is a ﷽new floor - a new section called ‘the throat’ to get as much air flow underneath to be worked by the floor, as possible. 

“This is following the trend set by the big teams. They alsꦰo have a lower downforce rear wing. That is common among all the teams - to suit the Baku conditဣions.

“In some races this year, McLaren had the second-slowest car. They 𒅌are hoping [these upgrades] geﷺt them to the middle of the midfield.”

Fellow Sky Sports pundit Naomi Schiff was concerned that McLaren w⛎ill struggle to optimise their new package given that there’s just 60 minutes of running ahead of qualif🍸ying due to it being a sprint weekend.

“It’s goinꦬg to be a challenge for them,” Schiff explained. “They run these simulations back home, but they’ve only got one session to get a different car into a sweet spot. But it’s a positive place to be in.”

Alpine

Like McLaren, Alpine have been🅷 busy working on new upgrades to bridge the gap to the top four teams.

Alpine F1 Team A523 front wings. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku Street Circuit,
Alpine F1 Team A523 front wings. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 4, Azerbaijan Grand Prix,…

While Alpine didn’t come away from Australia with the points they deserved, they would have been encouraged with how 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Pierre Gasly was able to run at the front of the grid before his crash with teammate 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Esteban Ocon.

Team boss Otmar Szafnauer believes Alpine can ch𒆙allenge Aston Martin, Mercedes and Ferrari for second with an aggressive development path.

Speaking about Alpine, Kravitz added: “A floor a♉nd a new 🦩front wing - they hope it’s enough to challenge Aston Martin at the top of the midfield.”

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