McLaren is optimistic about its chances at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, highlighting the introduction of an experimental rear wing on the MCL40. Despite having not secured a grand prix victory in 2026 and managing only four podium finishes from the first six races, the team is aiming for a strong performance in Spielberg.

Following Lando Norris' impressive third-place finish in Barcelona, the team believes that either he or teammate Oscar Piastri could potentially secure a win.

Neil Houldey, McLaren's technical director for applied engineering, stated, "Austria has historically been a strong track for us... we are optimistic that the car and driver characteristics will again suit the circuit, putting us in the fight at the front."

The upgrades include:

• An experimental rear wing similar to Ferrari's innovative 'Macarena wing'
• Minor detail updates around the car's rear corners

Houldey emphasized the ongoing development race, stating, "These developments are all part of our season-long development pathway... looking for every lap time opportunity."

In contrast, Mercedes chief Toto Wolff confirmed that his team will also introduce upgrades aimed at resolving recent reliability issues. After George Russell's retirement from the lead in the Canadian Grand Prix and Kimi Antonelli's technical failure in Barcelona, Wolff stressed the need for improvement to maintain championship competitiveness.

He remarked, "We are in a fight for both championships but must improve if we want to come out on top come the end of the season."

As the teams prepare for the tight qualifying sessions typical of the Austrian circuit, both McLaren and Mercedes are looking to capitalize on their upgrades to challenge for victory this weekend.