This may only be a curiosity at first glance, but it certainly deserves closer attention. McLaren, the reigning world champions, find themselves in an unexpected position after the opening three Grands Prix of the season, sitting only third in the Constructors’ Championship. The Woking-based outfit currently has just half the points of second-placed Ferrari (46 compared to 90) and trails Mercedes by a significant 89-point margin.
At first sight, such figures might suggest a crisis scenario, almost a sporting collapse. However, a deeper and more careful analysis paints a rather different picture. The MCL40 did not compete in China, while Oscar Piastri was unable to start the Australian Grand Prix. In other words, the papaya-colored cars have not enjoyed the smoothest start to the new Formula 1 campaign, but what we have seen so far does not accurately reflect the true potential of Andrea Stella’s team. Piastri’s impressive second-place finish at Suzuka is a clear indication that the squad is still adapting to the latest regulatory changes and that performance may improve as understanding grows.
One of the key challenges McLaren has faced this season stems from its status as a customer team of Mercedes. The technical department, led by Rob Marshall, appears to have initially underestimated how crucial the management of the Mercedes AMG M17 E Performance power unit would be in determining overall lap performance. In particular, the importance of software development for battery recharging and hybrid deployment seems to have been greater than expected. It is likely that the team believed the guidance provided by Mercedes engineers based in Brixworth and stationed at Woking would be sufficient to optimize these aspects.
It is now clear that this assumption did not fully hold true, and this brings into focus an interesting detail observed during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. An image captured by AG Images during free practice sessions at Suzuka revealed that McLaren had been gathering data typically associated with engine manufacturers.
On one of the MCL40 cars, around the terminal section of the central exhaust, a metal ring appeared, equipped with four radial sensors designed to measure the flow rate of the hot exhaust gases. In addition, two micro-thermometers were installed to monitor temperature variations with precision. This raises an intriguing question: why would a customer team delve into areas that are usually the responsibility of the engine supplier?
The question is entirely legitimate, and the answer may soon become clearer with the substantial upgrade package that McLaren is preparing for the upcoming races in Miami and Montreal. The Woking team is expected to introduce significant technical innovations across these two events, aiming to kickstart its recovery and close the gap to both Mercedes and Ferrari in the championship standings.
Some insiders suggest that Peter Prodromou’s aerodynamic department is also evaluating a concept inspired by Ferrari’s approach, specifically exploring the use of exhaust blowing through the FTM system. This solution could improve rear wing efficiency while also enhancing airflow extraction from the diffuser, potentially unlocking additional performance gains.
Anyone who believes McLaren is destined to remain in a secondary role this season may be underestimating the team. The current difficulties can be partially traced back to the intense battle during the latter stages of the 2025 campaign, when the strong resurgence of Red Bull and Max Verstappen forced McLaren to allocate extra resources to secure what seemed to be a safe Drivers’ Championship title with Lando Norris. As a result, valuable time and development capacity were inevitably taken away from the 2026 project.
However, McLaren has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to respond effectively to challenging situations, managing periods of difficulty with composure and a structured approach. For this reason, there is a strong expectation that the team will deliver notable improvements in the near future, starting with the crucial upgrades planned for Miami and Montreal.
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