There seem to be more significant upgrades from a number of teams this year, McLaren’s being the latest. Will the top four teams be bringing many more in the second half of the season or is there a limit to what they can do? – Richard
All the F1 teams headed into 2026 knowing that the season would be defined by development.
When there is a new rule set, this is always the case. The longer a set of rules exists, the more a) the car designs converge; b) teams get into diminishing returns.
But at the start, progress comes faster and in bigger steps, and that explains the fluctuation in form between the top teams so far this season.
Typically, a team will bring an upgrade, their competitiveness will increase, but then it will shift as other teams bring their own upgrades.
The longer a team leaves it between upgrades, the more they fall back.
That’s why McLaren, for example, made a leap forward with their Miami upgrade, but slowly slipped back as Mercedes and Ferrari brought their own big developments in Canada and Spain.
Then, McLaren leapt forwards – even more than they expected – with their Hungary upgrade. And they have another due in Zandvoort. And more to come after that.
Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull also have developments to come after the summer break.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said in Hungary: “I still believe that if we want to be in a position to fight for victories consistently in the future, we need to keep our focus on delivering more upgrades. That is the plan, but we are not naive. We know that this will be the plan for all the teams.
“Like it’s always been in this 2026 season, it’s a matter of a race of upgrades. And the good news is that McLaren is now back in this race of upgrades while fighting for the lead.
“But I expect that the car that will be the best car at the end of the season will keep adding tenths of a second in the next 11 races, probably as much as half a second. So definitely a lot of work ahead of everyone, not only McLaren.”
The limiting factor is the cost cap – all teams are restricted to spending no more than $215m on racing and development this season.
This means teams have to be strategic in how they deploy their new parts, “rather than just throwing it in at every grand prix, like in the past”, as Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff put it in Hungary.
He added: “We’re bringing upgrades, we’re closely monitoring how much we can bring. At the moment, cost cap-wise, we’re in a good spot. We’ve tried to have it a little bit more second-half-of-the-season weighted, and we’ll see if that’s enough.”
Why don’t McLaren make their own engines? They often seem to struggle because they rely on others’ (Mercedes) power units, who are also a direct competitor. Surely McLaren have the expertise and they could benefit their road car industry and their F1 car if they became a works team. – Jack
Making a Formula 1 engine is a highly specialised enterprise. It’s also extremely expensive. The manufacturers supplying engines to F1 this year have all spent hundreds of millions of pounds developing their power-units.
Apart from Red Bull, all are car manufacturers who have wider automotive companies to offset the cost, and expertise on which to lean.
There is now an engine budget cap, set at $190m in a company’s inaugural year, and $148.5m after that.
McLaren is a road-car manufacturer. But it does not build engines. It outsources its engines to a UK company called Ricardo.
The plans for the next F1 engine, due in either 2030 or 2031, are still being formalised, and there is considerable debate about them.
However, one aspect all stakeholders are agreed upon is for the costs to come down, perhaps even to the point where becoming a supplier of customer engines becomes a viable business proposition, which is not the case at the moment.
McLaren have proved they can win titles as a customer team, but they have also had frustrations with their Mercedes relationship this year. They have discovered how customer teams are on the back foot when it comes to maximising the operations of such complex engines at the start of a new regulation cycle.
As for the future, McLaren Racing chief executive officer Zak Brown said at the Monaco Grand Prix: “Priority one is to stay with Mercedes. They’ve been a great partner. Any time a new regulation comes out, we’ll take a look and see, is it something technically that’s interesting? Is it something fiscally that makes sense?
“We’ll go through that process when that happens. But sitting here right now, we’re extremely happy with Mercedes and we anticipate continuing with them.”
POTUS has just departed Turkey on the “Old Air Force” (VC-25A) Speculating if it will meet the new VC-25B Bridge in the UK for a fuel stopover and POTUS will return to Andrews on the VC-25B Bridge. pic.twitter.com/Xm4qOt52uq
“Mr. President, this plane does not have anti-missile defense systems on it. Why are you flying it?” S.V. Date, White House correspondent for HuffPost, asked Trump at a press gaggle at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, D.C., yesterday. The President had just returned from a trip to attend the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey.
“Well, it has – it has a lot, and, you know, it has a lot of capability,” Trump said in response. “But as I understand it, in about a month or so, they’re going to send it to have it be maxed out. So they’re going to be sending it, and they’ll have it be maxed out. It’ll take about a month.”
Reporter: Mr. President, this plane does not have antimissile defense systems on it. Why are you flying it?
Trump: Well, it has — it has a lot, and uh, you know it has a lot of capability, but as I understand it, in about a month or so, they’re going to send it to have it be,… pic.twitter.com/wDimk6RiQm
Trump did not elaborate on what “maxed out” might mean for the Bridge aircraft.
“The new Air Force One is perfectly safe for the President’s travels, but will receive additional upgrades and enhancements in the fall which will take approximately one month to complete,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to TWZ. “During that time, the President will fly on the old Air Force One.”
We have also reached out to the U.S. Air Force and L3Harris for more information. L3Harris is the defense contractor that served as the lead integrator for the modifications to the former Qatari 747. You can read more about what is known about the conversion process, which took approximately 10 months, here.
The VC-25B Bridge aircraft, seen at Andrews Air Force Base at its official unveiling in June. USAF
“We knew there were some issues around security with the plane. We’ve known that from the very beginning,” Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, said separately at a roundtable at the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom today, according to Breaking Defense. “Obviously, there was an effort to address that.”
“If there … was an examination and a problem apparently was determined to exist, the good news is that it’s apparently going to be addressed,” Senator Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, also said, per Breaking Defense. “And I think it’s important for all of us to determine what that problem is and to be supportive of corrective measures.”
Shaheen and Moran both serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Defense. Shaheen is also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
As noted, there has been significant new scrutiny of the Bridge aircraft’s defensive and other capabilities since Trump’s trip to Turkey and the swap with the VC-25A on the way back. On July 9, The New York Times reported that the ex-Qatari jet “lacks the same defensive countermeasures that were security features of the old model, including its advanced antimissile capabilities,” citing unnamed officials.
A stock picture of one of the Air Force’s existing VC-25A Air Force One jets. USAF
The Times‘ story included a statement from White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, saying that “the new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the president and his staff.”
Other outlets published similar stories about Air Force One’s capabilities, also citing anonymous sources. In a highly unusual development, the FBI subsequently subpoenaed four journalists at the Times as part of a leak investigation, which now appears to go beyond the more recent reporting on the Bridge aircraft.
The current array of defensive features found on the VC-25B Bridge aircraft is unknown. Details about the self-protection capabilities of the existing VC-25As — arguably the most well defended aircraft on the planet — are not usually openly discussed, but at least some of the countermeasures systems on those aircraft are plainly visible to the general public. This includes a version of the AN/AAQ-24 directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) system, also called Nemesis or the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system. There is the AN/ALQ-204 Matador infrared countermeasures (IRCM) system, as well. The AAQ-24 uses lasers to blind and confuse the seekers on infrared-homing missiles. These laser turrets are mounted all over the bottom of the aircraft. The older ALQ-204 system has a similar function, but sends out large fixed pulses of infrared energy rather than a steerable laser beam. The VC-25As also have visible missile launch warning sensors at various points around the aircraft to cue these and other defensive capabilities, and to just provide general alerts to incoming threats. There are certainly other capabilities that are not so plainly visible, as well. The planes are hardened against electromagnetic pulses (EMP), as well.
Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM)
To date, there have been no visible signs of any of these obvious defensive features found on the VC-25As being present on the VC-25B Bridge aircraft. This is something we have noted since the official rollout of the new aircraft in June. The Air Force and L3Harris have previously pushed back on any operational security concerns surrounding the jet gifted by Qatar.
There are additional questions now about what modifications could reasonably be made to the Bridge aircraft during another month-long upgrade period. As we previously wrote after Trump’s swap back to the VC-25A on the way back from Turkey:
“Defensive countermeasures, in particular, take time and careful work to integrate onto any airframe, let alone a newer type for which there might not be pre-existing procedures. Rigorous testing has to be done after integration to ensure those systems work as intended and do not conflict with other features, physically or in the radiofrequency spectrum.”
That being said, there are countermeasures systems that have already been qualified on at least some 747 variants, such as the aforementioned capabilities known to be found on the VC-25As today. There are other self-protection options available on the open market today for 747s and other similarly large aircraft, such as the C-MUSIC DIRCM system from Elbit in Israel. Northrop Grumman also offers a podded DIRCM system called Guardian that utilizes some of the same components as NEMESIS/LAIRCM. Both of these examples are not for high-volume threats, though.
Elbit Systems / DIRCM Missile Defense
Any move to upgrade the Bridge aircraft’s defensive capabilities now can only prompt the question as to why this was not done already. This is a matter of ensuring the safety of the President of the United States, whoever that might be, and underpinning the credibility of America’s nuclear deterrent whenever they are onboard.
There was certainly a push to have the Bridge aircraft in service, at least to some degree, by July 4th. The plane was a centerpiece of flyovers above the nation’s capital to mark this year’s Independence Day. Trump had flown on the jet for the first time just before, on a trip to North Dakota to attend the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and other celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The new VC-25B Bridge aircraft, at left, and one of the older VC-25As, at right, seen together at Andrews Air Force Base ahead of flyovers over Washington, D.C., on July 4, 2026. USAF
If the Bridge aircraft was rushed into service without certain defensive systems installed to be available for July 4th and other 250th anniversary celebrations, it could still have been sent back for additional upgrades afterward. However, there appears to have been no plans to get the Bridge aircraft any additional defensive or other capabilities before it was put into full service. This was proven when Trump and many other passengers headed overseas to Turkey aboard the new jet. Before the plane was delivered, TWZ had questioned whether the jet would ever fly abroad in the Air Force One role, and not be reserved for lower-risk domestic travel, due to these exact kind of security concerns.
There is an additional operational security layer to the equation here given that any aircraft serving in the Air Force One role inherently slots into America’s nuclear deterrent posture. Beyond their array of self-protection features, the VC-25As, in particular, have an extensive secure communications suite designed to ensure the President remains in contact with the National Command Authority at all times. The National Command Authority is the mechanism through which the President would order a nuclear strike, as you can read about in more detail here.
A report from CBS News earlier this month implied that the new Bridge aircraft lacks the same communications capabilities, as well as defensive features, found on the VC-25As. That story suggested both aspects here pushed the Secret Service to recommend Trump use the older aircraft on the return trip from Turkey, which came amid the start of the new campaign against Iran. The President had also just directed a new round of strikes on Iranian targets from the sidelines of the NATO summit. TWZ highlighted all of this at the time as potential contributing factors in the swap between Air Force One jets.
All of this raises further questions about what risks may have been accepted in allowing Trump to use the Bridge aircraft to travel to Turkey in the first place. There’s an additional question here of what would have happened had circumstances not prompted Trump to swap Air Force Ones, and had The New York Times and others not reported on the reasons behind that decision. Would it have ever gotten these extra defenses if those things didn’t happen?
The Boeing VC-25B Bridge, Air Force One, carrying President Donald J. Trump has landed in Ankara, Turkey, ahead of this week’s NATO Summit. pic.twitter.com/Qqea5RihiM
The Bridge aircraft has been the subject of criticism and controversy from the start. The circumstances under which the Qatari government gifted the plane to the United States in the first place were highly irregular.
The justification for needing the Bridge Air Force One at all remains a subject of debate, now fueled further by the clear continued relevance of the VC-25As. The Air Force’s efforts to acquire two fully equipped VC-25B Air Force One jets from Boeing have been repeatedly delayed, and the costs of that effort continue to rise. The first of those jets is now expected to be delivered in 2028, which is actually a slight improvement in the timeline. What will happen to the Bridge aircraft afterward is unclear.
The Air Force has separately acquired another 747-8i from German flag carrier Lufthansa, which is now being used as a trainer for aircrew and ground personnel. An additional ex-Lufthansa 747 will be cannibalized for spare parts, as well, in support of the burgeoning Air Force One fleet.
It is worth noting here that the VC-25As are also based on older 747-200 models, a type that has all but disappeared from service globally, even with commercial airlines. Those jets are becoming more complicated and costly to operate and maintain just as a result of diminishing supply chains.
With Trump’s comments yesterday, the VC-25B Bridge aircraft is now slated to get the defenses it should have had originally, or at least more than it has now, but the path to getting there is bizarre and raises real concerns, to say the least.
CLINUVEL PHARMACEUTICALS (CLVLY) (CLVLF) announced that its American Depositary Shares (ADS) are expected to commence trading today on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol “CUVL.”
The upgrade follows a July 17 declaration of effectiveness from the U.S. Securities and
The South Korean Navy’s 3,200-ton Eulji Mundeok destroyer (front) and other vessels engage in the first live-fire drills of the year in waters off Taean, South Korea. File. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
May 8 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s Navy will deploy the destroyer Wang Geon to the Gulf of Aden next week with newly upgraded anti-drone defense systems, following heightened security concerns after an explosion aboard a South Korean-operated vessel near the Strait of Hormuz.
Defense Ministry officials said the 4,400-ton destroyer, assigned to the Cheonghae anti-piracy unit, is scheduled to depart from the naval port in Jinhae on May 15.
The deployment comes 10 days after an explosion and fire aboard the HMM Namu cargo vessel near the United Arab Emirates in waters close to the Strait of Hormuz. While South Korean officials later said it remains unclear whether the ship was attacked, the incident intensified concerns over growing threats to commercial shipping in the region.
The Wang Geon is expected to replace the destroyer Dae Jo Yeong in early June as part of the Navy’s regular six-month rotation in the Gulf of Aden.
Military officials and defense analysts said the latest deployment reflects a broader shift in South Korea’s maritime security posture as regional tensions escalate across the Middle East.
The destroyer has reportedly been equipped with enhanced counter-unmanned aerial systems designed to respond to drone and missile threats increasingly seen in the Red Sea and Gulf region.
According to defense industry experts, the upgrades include electronic jamming systems capable of disrupting hostile drones, along with improved integration between the ship’s close-in weapon systems and Rolling Airframe Missile interceptors.
The destroyer’s upgraded combat system is also expected to improve simultaneous threat detection and response capabilities against drone swarm attacks and low-cost unmanned systems.
South Korean officials have closely monitored attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have used drones and cruise missiles to target more than 100 vessels since late 2023, according to international assessments.
The Wang Geon is the fourth Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer operated by the South Korean Navy. The vessel previously served in anti-piracy missions and is now undertaking its 10th overseas deployment.
The ship carries a Korean vertical launch system, anti-submarine missiles and Hyunmoo-3 cruise missiles designed for precision strike operations.
The deployment also follows remarks by President Lee Jae-myung last month supporting multinational efforts to secure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
During a virtual summit hosted by France and Britain on April 17, Lee said South Korea was a “key stakeholder” in Hormuz security and pledged to make a “practical contribution” to protecting maritime navigation.
Government officials later confirmed the comments signaled Seoul’s willingness to expand the operational scope of the Cheonghae unit beyond the Gulf of Aden.
Military planners are reportedly considering broader operations near the Strait of Hormuz, though officials said any expanded multinational mission could require parliamentary approval.
Lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties have argued that participation in multinational military operations during wartime conditions would need National Assembly consent under South Korean law.
The Cheonghae unit was originally established in 2009 to combat Somali piracy, but defense analysts say its mission has increasingly evolved toward countering asymmetric threats from state-backed groups and regional militias.
Since its creation, the unit has supported the safe passage of more than 40,000 vessels and gained international attention during the 2011 rescue of the Samho Jewelry crew from Somali pirates.
Officials say the Wang Geon’s upcoming deployment marks a turning point as South Korea expands its role in global maritime security operations amid rising instability in the Middle East.
