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Updates for Ferrari and McLaren in Abu Dhabi

Updates for Ferrari and McLaren in Abu Dhabi

18-11-2022 07:51 Last update: 08:31
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GPblog.com

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is on the programme this weekend. It is already the last race of the season. Still, two teams have brought minor updates to the Yas Marina circuit.

In the closing stages of the 2022 season, teams have slowly shifted their focus to next year. Yet there is still much to be gained this season, despite Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen's two title wins. Indeed, the rest of the field is still fighting for different positions in the championship.

For instance, Mercedes and Ferrari are still fighting for second place in the constructors' championship. The Italians have a 19-point lead heading into the weekend in Abu Dhabi. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are a lot closer after the successful weekend in Brazil. Mercedes will not introduce any more updates in Abu Dhabi, but Ferrari will come up with a small adjustment towards the final race.

The team has curled the rear floor edge upwards. It is a very local and small adjustment that should ensure that the quality of airflow in the rear diffuser is improved. It is only a test part.

McLaren also brings updates

McLaren are still battling with Alpine for fourth place in the championship. The British team had a dramatic weekend in Brazil, where Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris both crashed out in the main race. McLaren will test a new floor in Abu Dhabi to evaluate the car's ride height behaviour, with the floor edge wing removed.

The team has also brought new cooling panels where airflow towards the sidepods can be tuned. The new panels should optimise aerodynamic performance at the required cooling level. The update is not meant to be a standard configuration.