McLaren F1’s 2026 season has shifted from a shaky start to a more competitive stance, highlighted by a win in Hungary that lifted the team to third in the championship with 220 points.
Early struggles and technical setbacks
The MCL40 entered the year as a customer chassis, trailing Mercedes in power‑unit integration. Early races revealed a persistent lack of rear‑end grip, especially in Barcelona, Austria and Britain, where the squad often relied on rivals’ misfortunes to gain ground. Reliability also proved problematic; only Aston Martin and Cadillac logged more completed laps, while McLaren suffered three retirements or non‑starts across eleven grands prix.
Team Principal Andrea Stella acknowledged the cost of the previous year’s double‑championship push. “We realized just how heavy a price we had paid for the effort we put in during 2025 to secure the world double,” he said, noting that the early‑spec MCL40 was not the right long‑term direction.
Related: NASCAR Chase Bubble Tightens With Three To Go
During the mid‑season, Stella explained that aerodynamic development cannot be rushed. “It normally takes one or two months, and I think this couple of months is the delay that we have at the moment,” he added, describing the need for a more measured approach.
Turnaround in Hungary and upcoming upgrades
The breakthrough came at the pre‑summer race in Hungary, where Lando Norris turned a marginal pole position into a comfortable victory. The win, supported by strong upgrades, suggested the car was finally converging toward the performance level the organization desires.
Momentum is building.
McLaren plans further sizable updates for the Azerbaijan round, aiming to cement its place among the front‑runners. “We’re certainly not quite at the level we want to be at, or we were at last season,” Norris said, emphasizing the need for continued development.
Related: Felix Rosenqvist Discusses Return to Arrow McLaren
Oscar Piastri also showed promise, contending for victory in Japan, though his overall pace has lagged behind expectations.
For the drivers, the improved package means more confidence at the wheel. Norris feels he can now extract more from the car, stating, “I’m very happy… I feel like I’ve driven better in this half of the season than I probably did to this point last year.” This shift in driver mindset could translate into steadier results as the season progresses.
Looking ahead to the remaining races
While defending both titles appears unlikely, the Budapest win has injected optimism into the garage. The focus now rests on refining the MCL40’s aerodynamics and ensuring reliability does not undermine the gains made.