McLaren flexible on short wheelbase

Only Hamilton had the opportunity to compete with the updated MP4-24 in Valencia, although he suggested over the weekend that he actually preferred the older version.

However, following analysis of the benefits of the car by McLaren this week, the team is to give both drivers the chance to compete with the shorter version is Belgium.

McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale said during a Mclaren media phone-in on Wednesday that the team was being flexible on its plans.

"In terms of the package for this weekend, I would say it is evolution rather than revolution, explained Neale.

"Spa requires a different downforce level to the circuits we have been running on recently so we do have new wings for the car available for both drivers. But that is more a rebalancing of the car for the circuit rather than an outright performance gain in itself.

"I think most of the teams will be doing something very similar.

"We have the short wheelbase available to both drivers, or both engineering teams, and when I spoke to Pat Fry last night when we were going through the analysis, I would say that it is one of the options that we have for this weekend.

"Depending on how the circuit is on Friday morning we can go either way so we are not committed in one direction or another on either car, but it is available to both."