McLaren's performance decline

McLaren has struggled in recent Grand Prix races, with its MCL40 car showing weaknesses that have become more noticeable as other teams have improved. The British team, which had shown promise in challenging Ferrari for the constructors' championship, has earned only 33 points across the Azerbaijan, Malaysia, and Singapore races.

Lando Norris's performance in Singapore

In Singapore, Lando Norris finished fourth, 40 seconds behind Max Verstappen, signaling a significant drop in performance. This result highlights the MCL40's decline compared to earlier in the season when it was more competitive.

MCL40's technical limitations

The MCL40's issues are not new but have been evident since the start of the season. It struggles in slow corners and at the entry of curves, and it suffers on straights due to high aerodynamic drag and shorter gear ratios. Tracks like Bakou and Singapore have not been favorable for the car, and its performance in Malaysia was unexpected given the track's characteristics.

Norris's feedback on the MCL40

Lando Norris expressed frustration with the MCL40, saying it has potential but is very difficult to exploit. He noted that the car must be constantly forced at the front and back, and it cannot work naturally. The issue is not a lack of downforce but the difficulty of maintaining the car in optimal conditions.

Adapting to the MCL40's sensitivity

Andrea Stella mentioned that Oscar Piastri, known for his smooth and precise driving style, has had to adapt his approach to push the car more aggressively. This change has been necessary since the start of the season, and Piastri has found it more challenging to adjust to the car's narrow operating range.

Rival teams' progress

McLaren has made modifications that have given expected results, but its rivals, especially Red Bull, have made significant progress. Red Bull's improvements in rear suspension stability have allowed Verstappen to better utilize the front suspension, giving him unexpected gains. Meanwhile, Mercedes' latest aerodynamic package has complicated the behavior of its car, showing that simply increasing downforce does not always lead to a more efficient vehicle.

McLaren's future plans

McLaren is preparing important developments for the Austin race, aiming to recover a significant portion of the three-tenths-of-a-second deficit experienced in Singapore. However, Stella acknowledges that these changes will not address the handling difficulties of the MCL40. The team estimates that fundamental corrections will not be possible until the MCL41 in 2027.

Testing aerodynamics for the MCL41

The developments this season will serve two purposes: defending McLaren's position in the championship and testing aerodynamic principles for the MCL41. With the interactions between the car's elements becoming complex, modifications can yield expected gains while causing unintended effects elsewhere.

Final races as a test bench

The remaining races of 2026 will act as a test bench for the MCL41, helping McLaren determine which technical choices are worth retaining and which might lead to repeated difficulties. The team aims to avoid ending up with a car that is fast on paper but difficult to exploit in practice.