Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Recommended for you

Palou and Wanser push back on backmarker traffic complaints following Portland victory

IndyCar
Portland
Palou and Wanser push back on backmarker traffic complaints following Portland victory

What would you like to ask David Malukas?

IndyCar
Markham
What would you like to ask David Malukas?

Marco Bezzecchi admits he struggled to “stop overthinking” during difficult MotoGP spell

MotoGP
British GP
Marco Bezzecchi admits he struggled to “stop overthinking” during difficult MotoGP spell

RCR set to honor Kyle Busch with paint scheme featuring iconic celebration

NASCAR Cup
Richmond
RCR set to honor Kyle Busch with paint scheme featuring iconic celebration

Winners and losers from a tricky NASCAR Cup race at Iowa

NASCAR Cup
Iowa
Winners and losers from a tricky NASCAR Cup race at Iowa

Alex Albon leaves fans in stitches with Red Bull joke in F1 "Grill The Grid" video

Formula 1
Alex Albon leaves fans in stitches with Red Bull joke in F1 "Grill The Grid" video

Christopher Bell laments yet another second-place finish after failing to pass Ty Gibbs

NASCAR Cup
Iowa
Christopher Bell laments yet another second-place finish after failing to pass Ty Gibbs

Cadillac gives update on its under-construction F1 factories

Formula 1
Cadillac gives update on its under-construction F1 factories
Formula 1 United States GP

McLaren explains decision to hold fire on new F1 floor at Austin

The British F1 team did not want to "bring any confusion" with a larger upgrade package

Jake Boxall-Legge Jonathan Noble
Edited:
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal and General Manager, Scuderia Ferrari and Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Gunter Steiner

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mika Hakkinen

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Otmar Szafnauer

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Danica Patrick

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Jock Clear, Ferrari, Oliver Bearman, Reserve Driver, Ferrari and Haas F1 Team, James Vowles, Team Principal, Williams Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Alex Albon, Williams Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team, Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber, with Romain Grosjean

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
A Ferrari fan in the paddock

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Helmets of Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Helmets of Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, in the cockpit

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Red Bull Racing RB20 detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Red Bull RB20 rear suspension detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Haas VF-24 detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, in the cockpit

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Kevin Magnussen, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Zhou Guanyu, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Red Bull Racing RB20 detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Franco Colapinto, Williams, Gaetan Jego, Williams Racing Race Engineer

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
The flag of the United States of America

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, NASCAR star Jeff Gordon swap helmets

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team, NASCAR star Jeff Gordon swap helmets

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oliver Oakes, Team Principal, Alpine F1 Team, in the Team Principals Press Conference

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, in the Team Principals Press Conference

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team on stage

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Former NASCAR star Jeff Gordon poses with an Aston Martin Pirelli Hot Laps car

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team, Raoul Spanger, Manager of Nico Hulkenberg

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Leo Neugebauer in the Haas F1 Team garage

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, with Gene Haas, Owner and Founder, Haas F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mercedes F1 W15 rear suspension detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Haas VF-24 rear wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Franco Colapinto, Williams FW46

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Alex Albon, Williams FW46

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mattia Binotto, CEO and CTO, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mick Schumacher, Reserve Driver, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Jeff Gordon

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mechanics push Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Alpine mechanic pitlane practice

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Mercedes F1 W15 front wing detail

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin AMR24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-24, Alex Albon, Williams FW46

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15, Yuki Tsunoda, RB F1 Team VCARB 01

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL38

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Valtteri Bottas, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber C44

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-24

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Sprint pole man Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Sprint pole man Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, celebrates in Parc Ferme

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, receives his Sprint Qualifyiing Award from Leo Neugebauer, German Track and Field athlete

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Neugebauer, German Track and Field athlete

2024 United States Grand Prix - Friday
98

McLaren's decision not to introduce a new floor design for the United States Grand Prix was made to assess its other new components without "any confusion".

The Woking team brought a revised front wing and front suspension package, in addition to a series of changes to its rear brake duct furniture and rear wing.

However, McLaren stopped short of introducing a new floor design that has been in progress at its base, electing not to spend the four-week gap between Singapore and Austin fast-tracking it.

Engineering technical director Neil Houldey revealed that the team needed to be completely sure that the in-development floor works before manufacturing it.

He added that the scope of updates that McLaren brought to Austin was quite small, but "should give us a little bit of performance opportunity" further down the line.

Lando Norris appeared to confirm this yesterday after sprint qualifying, noting that the car was "basically the same" as the Singapore spec. The Briton had been given the full set of upgrades for Austin, while Piastri was without the new front wing.

Houldey felt that it was important to judge the other updates in isolation, rather than putting everything together in one package.

"We brought a lot of small upgrades for this event. I don't really want to go into too many details about what will appear at the next events, but there'll be more coming, for sure," Houldey explained.

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38

Photo by: Andreas Beil

"What we've been doing is just continue our development progress throughout the year and at the moment, it turns out, really, that what we want to do is bring something that we know works.

"So we're not trying to deliver something early. We're in a good position in the championship.

"But what we don't want to do is bring any confusion into the team about the results of the components we're bringing. So we're waiting and bringing them when they're ready.

"We want it on the car. We want the performance on the car as soon as we can possibly get it."

Houldey denied that the limited practice available in a sprint weekend was a factor, reiterating that McLaren simply wanted to make sure any floor upgrades were worthy of being added to the car.

He felt that, although McLaren's presence in the title battle adds scrutiny to its upgrade path, the team was dealing with it in the right way.

"We're just ensuring that when we bring the parts, they're the right ones, and they're going to bring performance to the track," Houldey continued.

Read Also:

"Aerodynamically, we already know the upgrades that we're going to be bringing to the next couple of events. So they're ready in that sense, but they're very much in manufacture back at the factory.

"We just bring it to the event that we can get it to in the fastest possible way. So whether it's a sprint or a standard event, doesn't make a difference to us.

"From our perspective, we're fully focused on our own technical development, and it's important for us to just focus on where we are and what we bring to the races and not what other teams are doing.

"We're learning what it's like to be back at the front again. So for sure, the scrutiny that that brings is new to us, and I think we're dealing with it in the right way."

Share Or Save This Story

Previous article RB admits Ricciardo farewell could have been dealt with better
Next article Honda pushing Red Bull to give Tsunoda F1 test run

Top Comments
More from
Jake Boxall-Legge

100 not out: Alex Albon on Williams’s desire to atone for its 2026 struggles

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
100 not out: Alex Albon on Williams’s desire to atone for its 2026 struggles

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen overdelivered in Hungary - and that's symbolic of their F1 2026 seasons

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Lando Norris and Max Verstappen overdelivered in Hungary - and that's symbolic of their F1 2026 seasons

Hungarian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2026

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
Hungarian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2026
More from
McLaren

McLaren "disappointed" not to pick up rotating rear wing as quickly as Ferrari

Formula 1
Formula 1
Hungarian GP
McLaren "disappointed" not to pick up rotating rear wing as quickly as Ferrari

Why McLaren won't turn off its 2026 F1 car development just yet

Formula 1
Formula 1
Why McLaren won't turn off its 2026 F1 car development just yet

How the McLaren MP4/8B's engine blow-up changed F1 history

Formula 1
How the McLaren MP4/8B's engine blow-up changed F1 history

Latest news

Palou and Wanser push back on backmarker traffic complaints following Portland victory

IndyCar
Portland
Palou and Wanser push back on backmarker traffic complaints following Portland victory

What would you like to ask David Malukas?

IndyCar
Markham
What would you like to ask David Malukas?

Marco Bezzecchi admits he struggled to “stop overthinking” during difficult MotoGP spell

MotoGP
British GP
Marco Bezzecchi admits he struggled to “stop overthinking” during difficult MotoGP spell

RCR set to honor Kyle Busch with paint scheme featuring iconic celebration

NASCAR Cup
Richmond
RCR set to honor Kyle Busch with paint scheme featuring iconic celebration

Feature

Discover prime content

100 not out: Alex Albon on Williams’s desire to atone for its 2026 struggles

Formula 1
Hungarian GP
By Jake Boxall-Legge
100 not out: Alex Albon on Williams’s desire to atone for its 2026 struggles

Why it will “take years” for Cadillac to reach the level F1 rivals are operating at

Formula 1
Dutch GP
By Stuart Codling
Why it will “take years” for Cadillac to reach the level F1 rivals are operating at

Why Aston Martin is a better destination on the F1 driver market than it seems

Formula 1
By Ronald Vording
Why Aston Martin is a better destination on the F1 driver market than it seems

How the McLaren MP4/8B's engine blow-up changed F1 history

Formula 1
By Gary Watkins
How the McLaren MP4/8B's engine blow-up changed F1 history
View more