McLaren will run aerodynamic upgrades on the MCL40 at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, including the return of the H-Wing last seen at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, as Formula 1 marks the 10th anniversary of racing at the Baku City Circuit.
The team confirmed the upgrade package will be evaluated across Thursday and Friday practice sessions before setups are locked in for qualifying and the race. The H-Wing was absent at the previous round — described by McLaren as a corner-heavy track where the team prioritised production time for rear wing components — but returns to Baku owing to the circuit’s long straight into Turn 1, a characteristic it shares with Monza.
This year’s event runs on an altered schedule, shifting from the traditional Friday-to-Sunday format to Thursday-to-Saturday to avoid a clash with Azerbaijan Remembrance Day on September 27, which honours those who died in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. Free Practice 1 begins Thursday at 12:30 local time (09:30 BST), with Free Practice 2 at 16:00 (13:00 BST). Qualifying takes place Friday, preceded by Free Practice 3 at 12:30 (09:30 BST), with lights out for the race set for 15:00 Saturday (12:00 BST).
A Saturday race is unusual but not unprecedented in Formula 1. The Las Vegas Grand Prix also runs on a Saturday, and in 2024 both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix were moved to Saturdays due to the start of Ramadan. The British Grand Prix was held on a Saturday more than 30 times historically, including its inaugural edition in 1950.
Baku presents a distinctive technical challenge. The circuit features 20 corners — more than any other venue on the 2026 calendar except Jeddah — and the fourth-longest lap on the schedule. Turn 8, the first of three consecutive steep uphill corners, narrows to just 7.6 metres at its tightest point. The circuit’s long straight, the longest on the calendar, creates significant brake and tyre cooling challenges as temperatures drop during extended full-throttle runs.
McLaren arrives with strong memories of the venue. Oscar Piastri won the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix with an overtake on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc before defending to claim the second Formula 1 victory of his career. That result moved McLaren to the top of the Constructors’ Championship ahead of Red Bull, a position the team held through to the final race, when it clinched the title for the first time since 1998.
Expected temperatures of 25°C are forecast for race weekend in Baku, a city known locally as the City of Winds for its frequent gales.