Oscar Piastri will utilise McLaren’s full upgrade package for the remainder of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, commencing with Saturday’s sessions. The Australian driver ran without the team’s latest components during Friday practice at the Hungaroring.
Piastri concluded Friday practice in eighth position, trailing teammate Lando Norris by five places and over eight tenths of a second. Norris, conversely, operated with the new upgrade package throughout the day.
The decision for Piastri to run the older specification floor in his sole Friday session, Free Practice 2, was strategic. McLaren aimed to facilitate comparative data collection.
Reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli participated in Free Practice 1, taking Piastri’s seat. Fornaroli’s session was dedicated to trialling McLaren’s experimental ‘Macarena wing’.
This ‘Macarena wing’ is an experimental rear wing, previously intended for the Austrian Grand Prix but withdrawn after failing pre-session checks. It remains a test item and is not slated for competitive use in Hungary.
McLaren’s upgrade package for the MCL40 at the Hungarian Grand Prix includes a new floor and additional aerodynamic parts.
Randy Singh, McLaren Senior Director, confirmed that all new components performed as expected on track. He highlighted the value of the comparative work undertaken.
Singh stated that Fornaroli’s diligent work in FP1, alongside Piastri’s running of the old specification floor, was crucial for the team’s development programme.
McLaren currently holds third position in the constructors’ championship with 195 points. The team trails Mercedes by 163 points and Ferrari by 90 points.
The 2026 regulatory changes have impacted McLaren’s momentum, with the team falling behind Ferrari and Red Bull Racing in the upgrade race.
Team Principal Andrea Stella has characterised the Budapest upgrade as a pivotal moment in the MCL40’s development trajectory. Further updates are anticipated throughout the season.
Piastri acknowledged the challenging conditions at the Hungaroring, citing significant wind and an inconsistent, partially resurfaced track surface.
‘I’ll have the new bits tomorrow, so hopefully that improves things a little bit,’ Piastri commented. ‘I don’t think it’s going to change the world, but I think the Ferraris have looked very quick. I think Lando obviously looked pretty good then.’
Norris, having experienced the new parts, described Friday as a ‘tricky day’. He noted the need to better understand the new components and optimise their setup.
Leonardo Fornaroli, the 2025 FIA Formula 2 Champion, serves as a McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team Reserve Driver for 2026. He is part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme.
Fornaroli completed his maiden Formula 1 test in a McLaren MCL60 in March 2026.
Piastri’s 2026 season has been described as having ‘more lows than highs’. He currently sits 11 points behind Norris in the drivers’ championship.
