In fact, one of the chief challenges that remains for the squad is in improving the aero-efficiency of its MCL60, which has manifested itself in the car being too draggy for some circuits.
In that respect, last weekend's Italian Grand Prix offered a very different challenge, as the Monza track is all about straightline speed.
And, with an apparent disadvantage in terms of straightline speed when compared with competitors at previous venues like Spa, it was clear that the team needed to bring another suite of parts if it was to have any chance of fighting for points.
Most of McLaren's rivals focused their efforts on a bespoke rear wing design for the unique challenges of Monza.
And while McLaren also introduced a track-specific design of its own, it also used its time during free practice to collect side-by-side data on another lower downforce variant that might be useful later in the season.
Source: Autosport