McLaren will introduce a new front wing at the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix that is expected to form the basis of the aerodynamic concept used on its 2027 Formula 1 car, the MCL41. The Woking-based team is preparing a wider upgrade package for Interlagos, including changes to the rear wing and floor, as it attempts to recover lost performance and regain ground on Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship.
McLaren’s latest developments are designed to deliver immediate improvements to the MCL40 while also contributing to the design of next year’s challenger, which will again be driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Technical director for aerodynamics Peter Prodromou has confirmed that the team expects to carry the new front wing concept into the initial specification of its 2027 car.
McLaren prepares new front wing and aerodynamic upgrades for Brazilian GP
The 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship has already been decided, while Mercedes is expected to secure the Constructors’ Championship within the coming days. Nevertheless, there is still plenty at stake in the remaining races of the season, particularly for teams fighting over positions further down the standings.
McLaren currently finds itself fourth in the Constructors’ Championship after being overtaken by Red Bull. The Milton Keynes-based team has completed a remarkable recovery that began during the second half of the summer and culminated in Max Verstappen’s victory at last weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix.
Andrea Stella’s team, meanwhile, has struggled to maintain the momentum generated by Lando Norris’s two victories in the middle of the season. More broadly, McLaren’s 2026 campaign has been considerably more difficult than expected, particularly when compared with the impressive achievements delivered by the Woking operation over the previous two seasons.
The team’s competitive decline has also contributed to McLaren’s increasingly difficult battle with Red Bull, making the upcoming development package particularly important.
Why McLaren’s previous MCL40 upgrades failed to deliver expected results
McLaren’s upgrade programme has produced mixed results throughout the 2026 Formula 1 season. The developments introduced at the Hungarian Grand Prix helped Lando Norris secure victories in Budapest and Zandvoort, briefly restoring the team’s competitiveness at the front of the field.
However, subsequent packages introduced in Baku and Austin failed to produce the improvements McLaren had hoped for. The team has since acknowledged that some of the fundamental concepts behind the MCL40 are not particularly well suited to the new generation of Formula 1 cars introduced under the current technical regulations.
These limitations have made it difficult for McLaren to sustain the performance demonstrated during its most competitive weekends. The struggles have also been reflected in the pace problems experienced by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri following the United States Grand Prix.
Despite those difficulties, McLaren has no intention of abandoning development of its current car. The team will arrive at Interlagos with a further aerodynamic package intended to improve performance across the remaining races while providing useful information for next year’s design.
Peter Prodromou explains McLaren’s Brazil GP upgrade package
The new components will include modifications to the front wing, rear wing and selected areas of the floor. According to Peter Prodromou, McLaren’s technical director responsible for aerodynamics, the updates form part of the team’s normal development programme and are intended to help close the gap to its competitors.
“We have some updates planned for the front wing, rear wing and certain floor components as part of our normal development programme,” Peter Prodromou explained.
“The aim is to recover ground, improve our performance in the remaining races and build the momentum we need heading into next year.”
McLaren is particularly hopeful that Interlagos will provide a useful opportunity to evaluate the new components. The Brazilian circuit has historically suited the team, while its characteristics should offer a representative test of the aerodynamic improvements.
“São Paulo has been a favourable circuit for us in the past and it is a fairly representative track, so we hope these updates can help us take another step towards the front.”
McLaren’s new front wing concept expected to carry over to 2027 MCL41
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the Brazilian Grand Prix upgrade package is its connection to McLaren’s 2027 Formula 1 project. While the revised aerodynamic components are primarily intended to improve the current MCL40, the team has confirmed that the new front wing concept is expected to influence the initial configuration of next year’s MCL41.
Peter Prodromou emphasised that McLaren remains focused on its immediate championship objectives, particularly the battle for third place in the Constructors’ standings. At the same time, the team intends to use the knowledge gained from the new components to support its preparations for the following season.
“The season isn’t over yet: these updates have been designed to improve the car immediately and help us in the fight for third place in the championship.”
“Although the knowledge gained from these developments will feed into the development of next year’s car, we also expect to carry over the concept of the new front wing into the initial specification of the 2027 car.”
The decision underlines McLaren’s determination to extract value from the final stages of a challenging season. Rather than concentrating exclusively on 2027, the team is attempting to use its remaining 2026 development opportunities to address current weaknesses and establish a stronger starting point for the MCL41.
For Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the immediate objective will be to assess whether the new aerodynamic package can restore some of the competitiveness McLaren has lost in recent months. For the team’s engineers, the Brazilian Grand Prix will also provide an early opportunity to evaluate a front wing concept that could become an important part of its 2027 Formula 1 challenger.
Leave a Reply