During Friday’s practice sessions for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, McLaren introduced a significant aerodynamic upgrade package for its MCL40 car. The initial results from Interlagos indicate a positive step forward for the Woking-based team and its drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Lando Norris recorded the fastest time in Free Practice 1, setting a lap of 1 minute, 11.717 seconds. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli was second, 0.082 seconds behind, with Max Verstappen of Red Bull in third.
McLaren’s reserve driver, Leonardo Fornaroli, participated in FP1, utilizing Piastri’s car to evaluate the new aerodynamic components. Fornaroli completed the session in 11th position, posting a time of 1:12.833s.
In the second practice session, Kimi Antonelli topped the timesheets with a 1:10.763s. Norris secured second place, 0.253 seconds adrift, while Verstappen again finished third.
Oscar Piastri, returning to the cockpit for FP2 after sitting out the first session, placed fifth. George Russell of Mercedes was fourth, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari in sixth and seventh respectively.
The comprehensive upgrade package for the MCL40 includes a new front wing, a revised rear wing assembly, an updated beam wing, and modifications to the floor. McLaren is the sole team to bring upgrades to this Grand Prix.
The new front wing design is also a concept being explored for the 2027 Formula 1 season. These changes aim to improve overall aerodynamic load and efficiency, particularly in varying conditions at the Brazilian circuit.
McLaren’s Senior Director of Racing, Randy Singh, confirmed that the upgrades performed as anticipated. He noted that data from both practice sessions indicated the new components were delivering expected performance gains.
We brought a new upgrade package, including a revised front wing, and the data from both practice sessions indicates that it is delivering exactly as anticipated.
Norris expressed satisfaction with the car’s behaviour, stating that the upgrades appeared to bring performance and made the car feel ‘a little bit more straightforward’ to drive. He acknowledged the car remains challenging but delivered lap time.
Piastri adapted quickly in FP2 despite missing the earlier session, demonstrating immediate pace. He described his fifth-place finish as a ‘reasonable’ starting point for the weekend.
The team’s Chief Technical Officer for Aerodynamics, Peter Prodromou, indicated the updates are intended to improve current performance and provide crucial learning for the 2027 challenger.
These developments follow previous updates introduced in Baku and Austin earlier in the season, which did not yield the desired performance improvements. McLaren aims to arrest a recent dip in form against key rivals.
McLaren currently holds fourth position in the Constructors’ Championship. The team seeks to close the gap to Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes, with the competition remaining exceptionally tight across the field.
The focus now shifts to optimizing the car’s setup for qualifying, which is scheduled for Saturday. The team will conduct further data analysis overnight to finalize adjustments for the remainder of the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend.
