McLaren could have a significantly better opportunity at the Madrid Grand Prix than it did at Monza, although Formula 1’s new Spanish circuit also contains areas where the MCL40 may still lose ground to Mercedes. Lando Norris identified three factors that could shape that battle during Thursday’s press conference: mechanical grip, car balance and battery management.
The combination makes Madrid an intriguing test for McLaren. Some sections of the new circuit appear better suited to the MCL40 than Monza, while the slower corners and the importance of power-unit efficiency could expose familiar weaknesses. For Lando Norris, extracting the maximum from the electrical deployment while giving the car enough mechanical grip will be central to McLaren’s chances of challenging Mercedes.
Lando Norris identifies the keys to McLaren’s Madrid GP challenge
The first difficulty is the complete absence of meaningful real-world reference data. Lando Norris explained that McLaren’s preparation has therefore focused heavily on simulator work, not only to understand the circuit itself but also to explore the different ways electrical energy can be used around the lap.
“There is only so much you can prepare. We spent more time in the simulator trying to understand the flow of the circuit, what works, what happens with the battery using different lines. But three practice sessions are enough to get used to it,” Lando Norris explained.
On paper, the Madring nevertheless offers several characteristics that could work in McLaren’s favour. The circuit combines climbs, descents, banked corners and off-camber sections, creating several areas where a car’s ability to generate grip could become particularly important.
Compared with Monza, certain corners should therefore give McLaren a better opportunity in its direct fight against Mercedes. The change in circuit demands has already prompted teams to reassess their configurations, with McLaren adapting its Madrid aerodynamic approach to the very different characteristics of the Spanish venue.
“We simply need a good balance. We need to be at our best on deployment, battery and efficiency to compete with Mercedes as well as possible. Then all it takes is two or three corners that suit us a little better than them and you can already see the picture change,” Lando Norris said.
Mechanical grip could decide whether the MCL40 thrives in slow corners
The most interesting question concerns the MCL40’s behaviour through Madrid’s slower sections. Lando Norris made no attempt to hide how much could depend on the amount of mechanical grip McLaren is able to generate.
“Preferably, we need good mechanical grip. If we can have that, it should sort things out in the slow corners and then we could be pretty happy,” Lando Norris said.
If the MCL40 can quickly provide traction and stability, Madrid could suit its characteristics considerably better than Monza. If McLaren struggles mechanically, however, the car risks giving away time through the circuit’s numerous tighter sections. That makes the issue particularly relevant given Lando Norris’ previous assessment that McLaren’s low-speed weakness remains an important performance limitation.
The characteristics of Madrid also require a very different compromise from the extreme low-drag demands of Monza. McLaren’s setup choices for the weekend form part of a wider technical split across the grid, with a closer look at McLaren’s different Madrid aero approach highlighting how much teams have had to change their priorities between the two consecutive events.
Battery deployment remains crucial in McLaren’s Mercedes battle
Power-unit efficiency and electrical energy management remain another major part of the equation. Lando Norris openly identified Mercedes as the reference point, underlining how deployment and efficiency continue to be sensitive areas for McLaren.
That challenge becomes even more significant on a new circuit, where deciding precisely when to deploy electrical power can have a substantial influence on lap time. The same efficiency question is also part of McLaren’s broader development programme as the team continues to pursue Mercedes through its 2026 development work.
Oscar Piastri encouraged by McLaren’s progress at Monza
Oscar Piastri, meanwhile, arrives in Madrid with greater confidence after Monza. The Australian had described the Italian weekend as one of the recent events in which he had felt most comfortable with the car and believes McLaren has finally begun to identify some useful development directions.
“Monza was definitely a good step in the right direction. Things went well in qualifying and the race pace was good too. It still wasn’t all straightforward, but we’re finding ways to deal better with the difficulties we have,” Oscar Piastri said.
Oscar Piastri nevertheless admitted that he has still not fully adapted to McLaren’s 2026 car. His feeling with the MCL40 remains below the level he experienced with last year’s machine, while several solutions tested during the season did not immediately produce the hoped-for results. At Monza, however, something appears to have changed.
“This year I haven’t felt as comfortable with the car as I did last year. We’ve tried different directions and sometimes it takes time to find the right one. At Monza we found some things that didn’t necessarily make the car easier, but made us faster. And that’s the most important thing,” Oscar Piastri explained.
McLaren’s internal battle could return if Madrid brings victory chance
As for the tension that emerged between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at Monza, the Australian played down the situation with a light-hearted observation. After the race, the two McLaren drivers travelled to the airport together and even played padel on the same team during the week.
That suggests there is no lasting personal issue away from the circuit. On track, however, the situation could quickly become more intense again if McLaren’s greater optimism for Madrid translates into a genuine opportunity to fight for victory. With mechanical grip, balance and electrical deployment all likely to influence the competitive picture, the new Spanish circuit could reveal whether the MCL40 is ready to turn its post-Monza progress into a serious challenge at the front.
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