The upgrade battle at Zandvoort is turning into a proper two-horse race. Ferrari and McLaren have absolutely gone to town on new parts this weekend, while Mercedes and Red Bull have basically said 'nah, we're alright' with minimal changes. It's a fascinating split in philosophy heading into what could be a proper title decider in the Netherlands.

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Ferrari's brought five fresh upgrades to the SF-26, all focused on getting more aerodynamic load around this tight, twisty circuit. We're talking new floor body, floor board, floor edge, plus a reworked diffuser and beam wing. The Scuderia's clearly not letting up in this upgrade arms race. McLaren, fresh off Lando Norris's brilliant win in Hungary, has built on that momentum with their own package including a new rear wing assembly, engine cover, and revised brake duct. These changes target the same goal, wringing more performance from flow conditioning and brake cooling.

Meanwhile, Mercedes and Red Bull have decided to take a more measured approach. The constructors' championship leaders tweaked their front drum to improve flow through the steering range, while Red Bull's made a small modification to their wheel bodywork assembly. It's a stark contrast to what's happening up front, and it shows just how much Ferrari and McLaren are willing to push right now.

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Looking further down the grid, Aston Martin's continuing its recovery push with five upgrades across the AMR26, targeting aerodynamic load with a new front wing and diffuser floor fence. Alpine, meanwhile, has gone full throttle with eight changes, from floor tweaks to a complete rear wing revision. Pierre Gasly gets these upgrades immediately, with Franco Colapinto getting them from Monza onwards.

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The contrast is pretty telling. This weekend's upgrades show where each team sees their opportunities and weaknesses. Ferrari and McLaren clearly believe they've found gains worth pursuing right now, while the teams behind are either consolidating what they've got or playing the long game.

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