Singapore GP upgrade list reveals contrasting approaches from F1's top teams

With the 2026 season entering its final stages, technical development has taken a back seat for several teams heading into Singapore. Ferrari has opted against bringing any new components to Marina Bay, while McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull have taken a different approach, introducing a limited number of changes aimed at addressing specific performance and cooling requirements.

According to the official FIA car presentation documents, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull are among the teams to have declared updates, although their respective approaches differ in terms of the areas targeted and the objectives behind the changes.

McLaren has introduced a revised front brake duct designed to meet the high cooling demands of Singapore and upcoming circuits. The modification focuses on increasing the airflow available for brake cooling, with the team developing a new high-cooling front brake duct to accommodate these requirements.

Rather than representing a broader aerodynamic development package, the change is specifically aimed at improving the car's cooling capabilities, reflecting the demands placed on the braking system at Marina Bay.

Mercedes, meanwhile, has brought two related aerodynamic updates focused on the front wing assembly. The first involves changes to the chord distribution across the three front wing elements, alongside a switch to a two-element SM configuration. The second concerns the front wing endplate and footplate, which have been adjusted to accommodate the revised wing design, while the diveplane camber has also been modified.

According to the team's submission to the FIA, these changes are intended to alter the chordwise and spanwise loading of the front wing, improving performance across its operating range while also providing better control of the turbulent airflow generated by the front tyres.

Red Bull has also introduced two modifications for the Singapore weekend, targeting both aerodynamic performance and reliability. The first concerns the front wing, where revised endplate and flap geometries have been developed by modifying an existing assembly. The objective is to generate greater local aerodynamic load while maintaining airflow stability.

The second update involves the rear wheel bodywork, where the team has enlarged the exit duct to increase cooling airflow. This reliability-focused adjustment is intended to cope with the anticipated braking energy demands of the Marina Bay circuit, completing a relatively modest package of changes for the team.