Canadian GP technical preview: McLaren fast-tracks MCL40 updates to challenge Mercedes. McLaren heads to the Canadian Grand Prix with a major upgrade package for the MCL40.

McLaren brings major upgrade package to the Canadian Grand Prix

After a two-week break, the Formula 1 paddock returns to action in Montreal for the third Sprint weekend of the 2026 season. Despite the compressed format, with a 100-kilometre Sprint race and just one hour of free practice, the Canadian Grand Prix will still serve as an important stage for technical development across the grid.

Among the teams expected to make headlines on that front is McLaren. After a difficult start to the season, the Woking-based outfit has rapidly turned its campaign around, and the strong performances delivered in Miami were clear evidence of that progress.

McLaren aims to confirm its performance gains in Canada

In Miami, Mercedes maintained its position at the front thanks largely to an outstanding Andrea Kimi Antonelli, but rival teams showed they now have the tools to challenge that status.

Chief among them is McLaren, which has steadily regained momentum after its early-season struggles, helped by a better understanding of the Mercedes power unit and improved optimisation of the MCL40 package. The next phase of that progress will come this weekend in Canada through a substantial round of upgrades.

“McLaren heads into the third Sprint weekend of the season, which presents another strong opportunity to score points,” the team said in its official preview ahead of the Montreal round.

“Competition in Miami was intense, but the team secured a Sprint one-two finish and a double podium. After a two-week break, we are ready to carry that momentum into the next North American stop at a circuit loved by many drivers. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, named after the Canadian driver who made his Formula 1 debut with McLaren in 1977, is fast and flowing, with heavy braking zones and demanding chicanes.”

Extensive MCL40 upgrade package for Montreal

Ahead of the Canadian weekend, McLaren also provided the first details of the developments set to appear on the cars of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

“As established at the beginning of the season, Miami represented the first major step in our plan to improve the performance of the MCL40. That process will continue this weekend in Montreal, with numerous new components across the floor, chassis, front and rear wings, bodywork, halo, and roll hoop.”

McLaren will not be the only team arriving in Canada with a revised car. There is also significant curiosity surrounding what Mercedes will bring, with the Brackley team expected to introduce a major upgrade package for the W17. Ferrari, by contrast, is expected to wait until the Barcelona weekend before introducing its next round of upgrades for the SF-26, leaving the Scuderia focused on extracting the maximum from its current package in Montreal.

Further back in the field, teams like Williams and Haas are also expected to bring updates. Haas, in particular, endured a compromised Miami weekend while waiting to introduce its first meaningful development package of the season.