McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has confirmed that recent upgrades to the MCL40 have ‘corrected the calls’ made during the car’s initial design phase. This strategic shift culminated in Lando Norris securing victory at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race before the Formula 1 summer break. The team’s performance at the Hungaroring marked a significant turnaround after a challenging start to the season.
Stella elaborated that the main aspect of these upgrades involves introducing parts that follow a ‘slightly different concept’ in specific areas of the car. He stated that McLaren recognised the need to adjust their design philosophy after delivering the MCL40 and observing the concepts employed by faster competitors.
The team principal extended gratitude to the aerodynamic department for understanding the required conceptual development. He also praised the design, delivery, manufacturing, and logistics teams for their rapid progress and for successfully delivering parts under tight deadlines, with some components arriving late on Friday for Saturday installation.
Norris converted his pole position into a victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 26, his first win of the 2026 season and as reigning world champion. He recovered from an early mistake at Turn 2, where he ran wide and briefly lost the lead to teammate Oscar Piastri.
Norris ultimately crossed the finish line 15 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen. He described his pace during the race as ‘probably some of the best pace I’ve ever had,’ highlighting the car’s improved driveability.
Oscar Piastri also demonstrated strong pace in Hungary, initially taking the lead from Norris. However, his race was compromised by a tangle with Carlos Sainz while lapping, followed by a gearbox failure on Lap 56, which forced his retirement and triggered a Virtual Safety Car.
The Hungarian success follows a difficult first half of the 2026 season for McLaren, which included a double DNS at the Chinese Grand Prix. The team, which secured a double title in 2025, found itself off the pace and grappling with reliability issues, sitting third in the Constructors’ standings.
Stella acknowledged that McLaren paid a ‘heavy price’ in 2026 for its intense push to win the 2025 titles, which impacted the development of the current car. He noted that the transition between the 2026 and 2027 car projects is proving ‘much smoother’ in comparison.
Despite the recent victory, Stella remains cautious about McLaren’s title prospects, stating that much depends on the ongoing development race. He emphasised the need to continue introducing effective upgrades and outpace rivals who are also developing their cars.
McLaren plans further upgrades, with smaller improvements expected for upcoming events and a more substantial package targeted for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The team will assess whether to pursue additional end-of-season packages or shift full attention to the 2027 car based on post-summer aerodynamic development.
Technical Director Neil Houldey indicated that improvements made to the MCL40 this year will directly benefit next season’s challengers, given the minor tweaks between the 2026 and 2027 regulations. The focus is on increasing aerodynamic load and enhancing driver confidence.
Piastri has conceded that McLaren’s performance level has been ‘definitely up and down’ through the first half of the season. He expressed confidence in the team’s ability to improve, citing ‘good ideas’ and a collective hunger to regain their previous form.
Currently, Norris is fifth in the Drivers’ standings with 128 points, 91 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli. McLaren holds third place in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing Mercedes by 159 points and Ferrari by 87, with 11 races remaining.
