McLaren to run new rear wing in Brazil

Although the Woking-based outfit can afford to take a conservative approach to the season finale in Interlagos, with Lewis Hamilton only needing fifth place to guarantee himself the crown, the team have not eased off in their efforts to eek out more performance from their MP4-23.

It is understood that that work has resulted in the team feeling positive enough about a number of changes to the car's aerodynamic package for them to be introduced for the race at Interlagos.

Although the most visible difference will be with the new rear wing, it is believed that there will also be at least six other areas on the car where the team have targeted a step forward in pace.

McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh said in the aftermath of the Chinese Grand Prix that the team had worked hard on the elements that have now been approved for use.

"We have put the effort into primarily an aerodynamic package to enhance the efficiency of the car," he said.

McLaren have made it clear since Shanghai that despite the title situation they are continuing their preparations for Brazil as normally as they could.

Team boss Ron Dennis said: "It's clearly not done, but most likely it's only unreliability that's going to cause us a problem. So we're going to be cautious about tyres, rain, and all sorts of things.

"But there's nothing to be achieved before Friday in planning for the what ifs. All the work we normally do will be done and we will arrive on Friday morning ready to go and we'll adapt to whatever gets thrown at us."