In the run-up to the Spanish Grand Prix, McLaren Renault have been hyping up their B-Spec car. According to various media sources, the most striking feature will be a radical new nose.

However, McLaren driver Fernando Alonso has warned that the significant upgrade is not a “magical solution”.

“Barcelona is an opportunity to try some new things, see where we are and the direction we will take for the rest of the season,” Alonso said.

Other changes to the 2018 McLaren include new wings, bargeboards, floor and sidepods in Barcelona.

“The most striking detail will be the new nose,” said a source. “The crash test was passed on 11 April.

“Rumour has it that the design is pretty spectacular. It’s quite possible that McLaren says goodbye to the stub nose, perhaps doing something similar to Force India and Mercedes.”

“There were two working groups over the winter,” said a McLaren source.

“One was tasked with a basic test car for the Renault engine, while the other worked on the actual aerodynamic concept. That had to be held off until the new nose was ready.

“The nose and front wing determine what happens further back on the car,” the source added.

Despite the massive upgrade, McLaren are still playing down their expectations for the ‘B’ car.

“It’s part of a season-long plan to develop the car, as we always do until the final race,” said boss Eric Boullier.

Can McLaren actually perform better? They have already had a good start to their season with regular finishes, including points finishes. Will a B-Spec car be the answer McLaren Renault are looking for? A similar strategy by the Force India team, a couple of years ago yielded wonders. The team had been performing decently until then, but once the B-Spec car was introduced, it unlocked a whole new level of power.