Third place in the 2026 Formula 1 constructors’ standings and an already significant gap to Mercedes only tell part of McLaren’s current story. Because beyond the numbers, the picture that emerges after the opening races of the season is that of a team dealing with multiple issues at once—yet far from being out of contention. On the contrary, expectations are growing for a more aggressive MCL40 to arrive at the Miami Grand Prix.
A difficult start and key technical challenges
The starting point is clear: the beginning of the season has been complicated. Reliability problems, difficulties in understanding the power unit, and a car that, at least in the early rounds, has not displayed the solidity seen in the previous regulatory cycle. In Australia and China, different but related incidents highlighted a broader fragility, with both cars suffering failures linked to the same power unit component.
These issues were compounded by gearbox and hydraulic system problems, as well as critical battery management concerns, raising the real risk of penalties after just a few races. However, reliability is only part of the story. The core issue appears to be technical.
The MCL40 has yet to find a clear balance between downforce and efficiency. The most visible weakness lies in its behavior through corners. In the first two Grands Prix, the car showed a lack of grip, along with difficulty both generating and managing energy effectively. This limitation becomes particularly evident when compared to Mercedes and, above all, Ferrari.
McLaren uses the same power unit as the Brackley-based team, yet it has not been able to extract the same level of performance. This is not so much due to hardware limitations, but rather an incomplete understanding of the complex energy management systems that define the current regulations.
In the opening qualifying sessions, the gap over a single lap was significant, with notable differences compared to the Mercedes cars. While this deficit has gradually reduced, it remains a key weakness in qualifying performance. At Suzuka, for instance, the gap was limited to just a few tenths—a clear sign that development work is beginning to produce results.
A structural limitation that does not stop McLaren
One structural limitation remains the chassis, as team principal Andrea Stella himself has acknowledged, noting that Ferrari currently holds an advantage in this area. The design choice of a more compact car—approximately 15 cm shorter than the SF-26—could be contributing to lower aerodynamic efficiency, with direct consequences for downforce generation and, in turn, energy management.
This creates a complex cycle: less grip reduces the car’s ability to recover energy and lowers overall efficiency. In a regulatory framework where energy management is central, such a limitation carries even greater weight than in the past.
Despite all this, there is a key factor that urges caution before drawing conclusions. McLaren has already demonstrated, in the recent past, an exceptional capacity for development. Between 2024 and 2025, the Woking-based team managed to recover significant deficits and produce highly competitive cars within just a few months—an achievement that did not go unnoticed within the paddock.
This is where the real point of the analysis lies. The 2026 season may have started poorly, but it is far from being compromised. On the contrary, everything is still to play for. While the list of problems is real, many of these issues are typical of the early phase of a new regulatory cycle.
There is an old saying at McLaren: “It is easier to make a fast car reliable than to make a reliable car fast.” Today, the situation is more complex because a solid baseline is still missing on both fronts, but the principle remains valid.
Lando Norris also emphasized this point, referring to previous seasons: “I don’t even remember how many points we were behind in 2024, but we managed to recover and win the constructors’ championship.” This statement reflects a focus on potential rather than current performance.
The comparison with Mercedes, at present, is clear and must be acknowledged. The Brackley team has interpreted the regulations more effectively, particularly in power unit management and aerodynamic balance. However, the season is still long, and the enforced April break represents a crucial opportunity.
A month without racing can provide valuable time to reassess correlations, introduce updates, and refine the technical direction of the car.
MCL40: a transition phase to overcome
The overall impression is that McLaren is currently in a transitional phase. The car is not yet fast enough to consistently fight for victories, but neither is it too far behind to rule out a potential comeback. Much will depend on the team’s ability to resolve reliability issues and, above all, to expand the operating window of the MCL40.
Within this context, the upgrade package expected to debut at the Miami Grand Prix becomes particularly significant. These updates are aimed primarily at improving overall performance, while also making the car easier to understand and manage from a setup and operational standpoint. The same applies to the power unit side, especially in terms of software, which McLaren is looking to exploit more effectively.
The talent of the drivers and the quality of the organization are not in question. The real uncertainty lies in how quickly the team can translate these strengths into tangible performance gains. If they manage to do so as early as Miami, recent history suggests that McLaren could once again become a serious contender in the championship fight.
And if that happens, the narrative surrounding the team’s difficult start to the season would shift dramatically, transforming early struggles into the foundation of a potential comeback story.
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