After revealing its design through a render and skipping the first two days of testing to focus on development and complete assembly, McLaren has finally brought the MCL40 to the track in Barcelona. Lando Norris completed the car’s first laps, marking the start of a new era for the Woking team.
It’s time for the reigning champions, tasked with defending both world titles. Just before the Barcelona tests, McLaren unveiled the first renders of the MCL40, featuring a provisional black-and-silver livery designed solely for the Spanish shakedown, with the official launch scheduled for February 9.
After two days of preparation, during which the team completed assembly of the car, the MCL40 hit the track today with Lando Norris at the wheel. This was the car’s first real shakedown, revealing its form, which, according to Technical Director Rob Marshall, should not differ significantly from what will be seen in Bahrain or at the season opener in Australia.
The approach was to start with a well-developed base rather than introducing a basic and an evolved version separately. This allows a linear development path, similar to Alpine, which debuted the A526 in a relatively advanced form for the same reason, although upgrades are still expected over the course of the three pre-season tests.
Design highlights
As the renders suggested, the sidepods of the MCL40 feature a sloping shape, but without the internal cutout seen on some rival cars. The airbox is generously sized, in line with the current trend across the grid. McLaren has also returned to a front push-rod suspension after previously being one of the first teams to adopt pull-rod for the ground effect era.
At the front, the nose tip extends far forward, making it one of the longest seen so far. The endplate now includes a diveplane that was not shown in the render, with the front wing geometry overall differing from that of rivals.
The bargeboard behind the front wheels closely matches the render, while the floor reveals previously hidden details, such as vents and an additional strut. In the morning, McLaren used flow viz paint to study airflow, particularly around the rear of the car.
Defending the titles
The Woking team enters the 2026 season determined to defend its championships. Last year, McLaren secured both crowns, clinching the Constructors’ Championship in Singapore and completing the Drivers’ Championship with Lando Norris at the Abu Dhabi finale.
The debut of the McLaren MCL40 marks the final piece of the puzzle for the top-tier teams in Barcelona, signaling that the reigning champions are ready to defend their crown with a highly refined and integrated package. By choosing a “quality over quantity” approach to testing mileage, McLaren is betting that their advanced starting base will provide a more stable platform for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to fend off a rejuvenated Ferrari and Mercedes. As the black-and-silver machine racks up its first real-world data, the technical battle for 2026 dominance is officially in full swing.
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