Lando Norris has confirmed that McLaren’s four aerodynamic upgrades are delivering the expected performance gains at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, although the MCL40 remains a difficult car to drive. After topping FP1 and finishing second behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli in FP2, the British driver gave a positive assessment of the team’s latest developments, highlighting improvements in downforce, lap time and confidence behind the wheel.
McLaren introduced four updates to its MCL40 at Interlagos, concentrating primarily on increasing aerodynamic load and improving airflow efficiency rather than fundamentally changing the car’s handling characteristics. Norris believes the upgrades are producing the intended benefits, building on the team’s progress in Mexico, even though Mercedes proved more difficult to match during Friday’s second practice session.
Lando Norris confirms McLaren’s four Brazilian GP upgrades are working
McLaren’s development package has provided an encouraging start to the São Paulo Grand Prix weekend. Lando Norris set the pace in FP1 before finishing runner-up to Andrea Kimi Antonelli in FP2, demonstrating that the Woking-based team remains competitive at the front of the field.
The British driver acknowledged that the MCL40 had been easier to extract performance from during the opening session, while Mercedes appeared to hold an advantage later in the day. Nevertheless, Norris was pleased with the initial results of the four upgrades and the continuation of the improvements McLaren had already demonstrated in Mexico.
“In FP1, our pace seemed fairly easy to find, whereas in FP2 we had a few more difficulties keeping up with the Mercedes cars. Overall, though, it was a good start to the weekend, and we’ve built on the progress we showed in Mexico.
“Yesterday, we also dedicated part of our work to evaluating the upgrades, to check that they were behaving as expected. The feedback is positive: the updates are working and seem to have helped us gain performance.”
The encouraging assessment follows a challenging period for McLaren, which had previously encountered pace-related difficulties during the United States Grand Prix. The Brazilian upgrades therefore represent another attempt to improve the MCL40’s competitiveness as the team continues developing its 2026 car.
McLaren MCL40 gains downforce without a major change in handling
Although the four updates have improved the car’s performance, Norris explained that their primary objective was not to transform the MCL40’s handling characteristics. Instead, McLaren focused on generating additional aerodynamic downforce and improving the car’s overall speed.
The British driver distinguished between upgrades designed to alter a car’s balance and those intended principally to increase outright performance. In McLaren’s case, the latest package falls mainly into the second category.
“From a driving point of view, not everything has changed. The car remains quite difficult to understand, but we’ve found something in terms of lap time, which is exactly what we were looking for.
“There are essentially two types of upgrades: those designed to change the balance and behaviour of the car, and those developed primarily to increase performance by generating more downforce and allowing you to go faster.”
That distinction helps explain why McLaren can be satisfied with its latest developments despite Norris continuing to experience some of the difficulties that have affected the car throughout the season. The updates appear to have delivered more performance without completely changing the characteristics of the MCL40.
Lando Norris admits McLaren remains difficult to drive despite improvements
While outright performance was the main priority, Norris acknowledged that additional downforce can sometimes bring secondary benefits by making a car more predictable and easier to manage.
That appears to have been his experience during the Brazilian Grand Prix practice sessions. Although McLaren has not eliminated the MCL40’s handling difficulties, Norris reported slightly better sensations and increased confidence compared with previous weekends.
“Naturally, you always hope an upgrade can also improve how the car feels behind the wheel, especially when you have a car that has been difficult to drive for much of the season.
“In this case, the main objective wasn’t to change the characteristics of the MCL40, but to achieve greater grip through an increase in aerodynamic downforce. Sometimes, though, even an improvement of this kind ends up making the car more pleasant and easier to manage.”
The McLaren driver went on to explain that the improvements were noticeable, even if the car was still some way from being completely satisfactory.
“Yesterday, that was exactly the impression I had: the car’s behaviour seemed slightly better, and I was able to find more confidence. It doesn’t mean that all the problems have disappeared, but it’s certainly an encouraging sign.
“We’ve started the weekend in the right direction, and now we need to try to make the most of the progress we’ve achieved.”
McLaren looks to maximise upgrades after Mercedes shows stronger FP2 pace
McLaren’s positive development results come as the team attempts to improve its competitiveness against Mercedes at Interlagos. Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s fastest time in FP2 demonstrated the strength of the German manufacturer’s package, but Norris remained close enough to maintain an encouraging outlook.
The Woking-based squad has concentrated on increasing downforce and extracting more performance from the MCL40 rather than making sweeping changes to its driving characteristics. Norris’ feedback suggests that this approach has achieved its immediate objective, with the additional grip also providing a modest improvement in confidence.
However, the British driver has made clear that the upgrades have not solved every problem. McLaren must now build on the progress demonstrated in Brazil and extract the maximum benefit from the new package over the remainder of the Grand Prix weekend.
Having already experienced a difficult run of results in its battle with Red Bull, McLaren will be encouraged by the early signs from its latest aerodynamic developments. For Norris, the important development is that the upgrades are delivering measurable gains, even if further work remains necessary to make the MCL40 easier to drive.
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