McLaren’s Singapore Grand Prix ended in disappointment as Lando Norris finished fourth and Oscar Piastri fifth, extending the team’s difficult run in the 2026 Formula 1 season. Having previously fought at the front, the reigning Constructors’ Champions have now slipped to fourth in the competitive order over the last three race weekends, with costly mistakes and inconsistent execution leaving the MCL40 behind Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes.
The Singapore result was another setback for the team that won the Constructors’ Championship in both 2024 and 2025. Although the McLaren MCL40 showed reasonably competitive race pace around Marina Bay, a succession of small errors prevented the team from turning that performance into a stronger result. Instead of challenging for victory, McLaren was left fighting for positions just outside the podium.
McLaren drops to fourth-fastest team at Singapore GP
The Singapore Grand Prix completed a largely underwhelming sequence of three races for McLaren. Lando Norris crossed the finish line in fourth position, while Oscar Piastri followed in fifth, leaving the British team behind Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes in the final classification.
For the second consecutive period of concern, McLaren appeared to be only the fourth-fastest team across the weekend. Marina Bay had been expected to suit the characteristics of the MCL40, yet the anticipated competitiveness failed to materialise in the results.
Lando Norris demonstrated stronger outright performance than Oscar Piastri, but his mistake during Saturday’s Sprint race significantly affected the overall assessment of his weekend. Taking the entire Singapore event into account, neither driver could claim to have delivered a particularly convincing performance.
With Max Verstappen operating at a considerably higher level and Red Bull closing the gap in the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren’s third position in the standings is increasingly under threat. The team that had previously been looking ahead towards Ferrari in second place must now pay close attention to the challenge emerging from behind.
Oscar Piastri satisfied with P5 despite difficult Singapore race
Oscar Piastri approached Sunday’s Grand Prix hoping to recover from a disappointing Sprint race, which ended in retirement following contact with teammate Lando Norris. The Australian ultimately finished fifth and expressed satisfaction with the outcome, although his performance offered limited encouragement regarding McLaren’s current competitiveness.
The gap between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at the chequered flag was partly explained by an additional pit stop. A slow puncture in the right-front tyre forced the Australian to make an unscheduled stop around the middle of the race, compromising his position and overall race time.
Nevertheless, Oscar Piastri’s pace was not especially convincing. He only managed to overtake Lewis Hamilton towards the end of the Grand Prix, when the Ferrari driver was struggling with heavily worn Soft tyres. Hamilton’s difficult final stint was a major feature of the race, with Ferrari’s Singapore strategy leaving the seven-time world champion vulnerable to several rivals in the closing laps.
Speaking after the Singapore Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri reflected on his fifth-place finish:
“Not a bad race in the end, P5. It was a difficult race out there, thanks to the team for all their work. There’s definitely some pace to find, we certainly weren’t very quick, but we maximised the result today. That was everything we could do. I’m looking forward to relaxing for a week.”
Those comments underline the difficult position McLaren currently finds itself in. Although Oscar Piastri was satisfied that the team had extracted the maximum possible result from Sunday’s race, fifth place is hardly the outcome expected from a squad that has won the last two Constructors’ Championships.
Indeed, the result might have been sixth had Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari made better strategic decisions. The Italian team’s difficulties were particularly evident during the closing stages, when Hamilton’s decision to remain on track during the neutralisation contributed to his loss of positions.
For McLaren, the distance separating its current results from regular victories remains considerable. That is especially concerning given the ambitions outlined by Zak Brown during Thursday’s press conference, when the McLaren chief reiterated that winning is the objective the team wants to pursue at every Grand Prix.
Lando Norris misses Singapore podium after another costly mistake
Lando Norris has also experienced a difficult sequence of races. Earlier in the 2026 season, the British driver earned praise for a spectacular opening to the championship that had arguably attracted less attention than it deserved. However, his latest three-race run has been considerably less impressive.
Outright speed has rarely been the main problem for Lando Norris. Instead, a series of mistakes has undermined his results, preventing McLaren from translating promising performance into the points and positions it needs.
The sequence began in Baku, where Lando Norris made an unforced braking error. Another mistake followed in Malaysia during a Safety Car period, again without direct pressure from another driver.
At the Singapore Grand Prix, the pattern continued when Lando Norris attempted to attack Lewis Hamilton. The McLaren driver made another error, allowing Kimi Antonelli to take advantage and claim the final podium position.
The incident was particularly costly because Lando Norris had an opportunity to secure a stronger result. Instead, the mistake contributed to another fourth-place finish, extending a frustrating period in which the British driver’s underlying speed has not consistently translated into podium finishes.
Both McLaren and Lando Norris now need to reassess their approach. The team must improve its overall execution, while its drivers need to reduce the errors that have repeatedly undermined their performances over the last three Grand Prix weekends.
Red Bull threatens McLaren’s third place in Constructors’ Championship
While McLaren struggles to regain its earlier competitiveness, Max Verstappen continues to make significant progress in the Drivers’ Championship. Red Bull is also closing dangerously on McLaren in the Constructors’ standings, increasing the pressure on the reigning champions.
Red Bull’s recent progress is particularly notable given that Isack Hadjar missed three events and was replaced by Liam Lawson. Although Liam Lawson managed to collect some points during those appearances, he was unable to deliver the same level of performance that Isack Hadjar had shown in the car.
Despite that disruption, Red Bull has continued to close the gap, helped by Max Verstappen’s exceptional performances. The Dutchman’s form has strengthened the team’s position and made McLaren’s third place increasingly vulnerable.
For McLaren, the change in circumstances has been dramatic. The team had previously been looking towards Ferrari, hoping to close the gap and challenge for second place in the Constructors’ Championship. Now, rather than concentrating on the team ahead, it must defend its position against Red Bull.
McLaren faces difficult challenge after three disappointing races
The Singapore Grand Prix highlighted how quickly the competitive order can change in Formula 1. McLaren still possesses a car capable of producing respectable race pace, but the combination of mistakes, compromised races and stronger performances from its rivals has left the team in an increasingly uncomfortable position.
Oscar Piastri’s fifth-place finish was affected by a slow puncture, while Lando Norris once again missed an opportunity to achieve a better result through an avoidable mistake. Neither outcome can be considered satisfactory for a team whose stated objective remains fighting for victories.
With Red Bull closing in and Ferrari maintaining its position ahead, McLaren can no longer afford to focus solely on recovering its former race-winning form. Protecting third place in the Constructors’ Championship has become an immediate concern.
For the reigning World Champions, the overall assessment of the last three races is difficult to interpret positively. Unless McLaren can improve both its execution and consistency, its disappointing run could have significant consequences for its final position in the 2026 Formula 1 championship.
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