McLaren will introduce further MCL40 upgrades at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix as the reigning constructors’ champions pursue a second consecutive victory following Lando Norris’s triumph in Hungary. A new rear wing and revised rear brake ducts will complete the package launched in Budapest, giving the team another opportunity to measure its recent progress against Formula 1’s leading contenders.
After struggling for much of the opening phase of the new season, McLaren returned to the front immediately before the summer break. Lando Norris and the Woking team dominated the Hungarian Grand Prix to secure their first victory of the 2026 season, restoring confidence ahead of the second half of the championship.
A spectacular comeback similar to 2024 appears difficult to repeat. That year, McLaren won the Constructors’ Championship while Lando Norris challenged Max Verstappen during the Dutch driver’s pursuit of a fourth world title. However, the scale of the championship task will not prevent McLaren from targeting further prestigious race victories, beginning with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
McLaren MCL40 upgrades focus on the rear of the car
The incoming components will complete the MCL40 upgrade package introduced in Hungary. Neil Houldey, McLaren’s Technical Director of Applied Engineering, explained that the team remains encouraged by its Budapest performance but is conscious of the intense competition and the continuing importance of reliability.
“We head into the Zandvoort weekend after finishing the final race before the shutdown with a win and a strong performance, but we are very aware of how close the competition is and how important reliability will be,” Neil Houldey said.
“We have learned a lot in the first part of the season about how this car needs to be driven to extract performance and on containing the issues we faced earlier in the year. We have also worked hard as a team on continued development, with some parts available this weekend, focusing on the rear side, to complete the package introduced in Hungary with a new rear wing and new rear brake ducts.
“But we know other teams will bring developments too. Therefore, it will be another tough event, and our focus is on getting everything we can out of the car. If we execute well, we can put ourselves in the fight with the leading teams.”
How the 2026 F1 cars will change the Zandvoort challenge
The final Formula 1 race at Zandvoort before the circuit leaves the calendar will place particular emphasis on its notorious bumps. The new technical regulations introduced for 2026 will also require the drivers to approach parts of the Dutch circuit differently from previous seasons.
With the Dutch Grand Prix running to a Sprint format, the sole practice session will be especially important for evaluating the upgrades and refining the car’s set-up. Full timings for every session are available in the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix schedule.
“With the 2026 cars, we expect cornering speeds to be lower because of the reduction in downforce, but straight-line speeds will be higher thanks to the increased power and reduced drag in straight mode,” Neil Houldey explained.
“That changes the way the drivers will approach parts of the lap and means practice will be important for understanding the upgrades we are bringing, refining harvest and deployment, and adapting if the weather adds another layer of complexity.”
Zandvoort’s bumps make ride-height balance critical
Finding the right compromise between aerodynamic performance and the ability to absorb Zandvoort’s bumps will be another central challenge. The circuit combines banked corners, fast sections, elevation changes and potentially disruptive coastal winds, all of which can make the MCL40’s handling less predictable.
“The circuit in Zandvoort offers a unique challenge from an engineering perspective, with its banked corners, high-speed sections, undulating layout and the wind, which can make the car’s handling unpredictable,” Neil Houldey concluded.
“One of the key focuses for the weekend will be finding the right balance between stiffness and ride performance over the bumpier sections of the circuit, while making sure we optimise the aerodynamic setup and ride heights across practice.”
