With the US Grand Prix sitting at the start of a flyaway triple header, several teams have brought significant aerodynamic upgrade packages that will likely see them to the end of the season. 

McLaren and Mercedes’ packages are perhaps the most comprehensive, as McLaren look to maintain their edge over Red Bull and Mercedes look to close down the gap to Ferrari.

Mercedes have introduced a new front wing and altered front suspension with the aim of improving the flow of air rearwards, while a new floor edge and floor fences increase the floor load and local and downstream flow.

The most visually obvious upgrade on the Mercedes W15 however is a move to an ‘overbite’ sidepod inlet which the team say will allow them an increased operating range with an improvement in engine cooling through increasing the airflow moving through the cooling components.

McLaren’s updates come in the form of a new front wing, frog suspension geometry and front brake duct designed to improve flow conditioning. With this comes a reduction in the cooling duct for the front brake to better meet the brake temperature demands of the Austin circuit, which are generally not large. 

The team’s upgrade package also includes modified rear suspension at the rear corner to improve flow quality, with an additional rear brake duct cooling exit aimed at improving overall cooling performance. 

McLaren are using a higher downforce rear wing this weekend which brings an increase in drag that they’ve offset with a new single element beam wing, while maintaining the DRS advantage that comes with a higher drag rear wing configuration.

Red Bull have brought limited aerodynamic updates to COTA, with an updated floor edge aimed at increasing local load and a modified engine cover to improve cooling efficiency while minimising the louvres needed.

The only top four team with no upgrades this weekend is Ferrari, who have opted to run existing parts and refine their performance.

Further down the field, Aston Martin have a comprehensive update list, including a new front wing, bodywork, floor and diffuser – all with the aim of increasing local load and improving performance. 

Alpine bring floor modifications as they seek improved load generation, while new bodywork and a rear wing improve flow conditioning and loading rearwards.

Visa Cash App RB come to Austin with an entirely new floor, but their closest championship competitors in Haas have followed suit in seeking increased floor performance, while also bringing additional cooling options to their pool.

As Sauber look for their first points of the year, they have a front wing with entirely new elements, and suspension fairings front and rear which will run only on Valterri Bottas’ car as the team accelerated the package originally intended for the Mexico City Grand Prix in a week’s time.