The team has confirmed it will run an experimental rear wing at Spielberg as part of a smaller update package for the MCL40.
The concept follows similar designs already seen from Ferrari and Red Bull this season, with Ferrari first drawing attention with its so-called ‘Macarena’ wing in pre-season testing before racing its version in Miami.
Red Bull also introduced its own interpretation of the idea in Miami, though its version operated differently to Ferrari’s design.
McLaren has not publicly detailed its solution, but the wing is understood to be a test item rather than a race-ready upgrade for the Austrian weekend.
The Friday running will allow the team to gather data before deciding whether the concept, or a development of it, returns later in the season.
The test comes alongside minor refinements around the rear corners of the car, with McLaren continuing its development push after a mixed start to its 2026 season.
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McLaren technical director of applied engineering Neil Houldey said the Austrian update was part of the team’s ongoing push to find extra performance.
“We’re always looking to make refinements that add performance and lap time to the car,” he said.
“For this event, we’ve focused on minor detail updates around the car’s rear corners, as well as an experimental rear wing that will run throughout Friday’s sessions.
“While the overall package is lighter than some of our recent updates, these developments are all part of our season-long development pathway, and we’re continuing to look for every lap time opportunity wherever we can.”
Earlier in the season, McLaren chief designer Rob Marshall pointed to Ferrari’s rear wing as one of the more eye-catching ideas from the early part of the season.
“Everyone saw that and thought, ‘oh, okay, yeah, that’s all right. But [are] we sure that’s legal?’ Yeah, it is! Okay,” he said.
Marshall said at the time that McLaren always assessed ideas from rivals, admitting that not every concept could be adapted to its own car.
“We kind of look at everything,” he said.
“Some things are closed off to us quite quickly when you look at the regulations, others remain open.
“Others are kind of limited to you by other architectural changes you may have made, or by things to do with the engine.
“But ultimately, we do analyse everything to a certain extent. Some things go as far as being wind tunnel tested or CFD tested.
“Others are more kind of thought experiments we do on them to see whether we think that they would be good or bad for us.”
McLaren sits third in the constructors’ championship on 141 points and is yet to win a grand prix in 2026.
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