McLaren faces a double challenge as it tries to defend its Formula 1 crown
The Belgian and Hungarian Grands Prix will bring the opening half of the 2026 Formula 1 season to a close, providing the perfect opportunity to assess the performance of every team on the grid.
Among those under the spotlight is reigning Constructors’ Champion McLaren. After winning back-to-back titles under the previous regulations, the Woking-based squad entered Formula 1’s new technical era expecting to remain at the front of the field.
So far, however, that objective has proved far more difficult than anticipated. McLaren currently sits third in the Constructors’ Championship and still has a significant performance gap to close to Ferrari and Mercedes, the two teams that have set the benchmark during the first half of the season.
The MCL40 is still a work in progress
Although McLaren remains firmly established among Formula 1’s leading teams, there are several reasons why the MCL40 has yet to reach its full potential.
One of the biggest challenges stems from McLaren’s position as a Mercedes customer team. Team Principal Andrea Stella has repeatedly acknowledged that the team started the season behind schedule when it came to understanding and fully exploiting the Mercedes power unit, which is widely regarded as the strongest engine currently available in Formula 1.
That lack of complete familiarity has affected not only the car’s development but also its reliability. A clear example came at the Chinese Grand Prix, where electrical issues prevented both McLaren cars from even taking the start, costing the team a valuable opportunity to score championship points.
Despite collecting numerous points finishes, along with four podiums in feature races and another four in Sprint events, the MCL40 has struggled to deliver consistent performance across different circuits and conditions.
Development restrictions have added another obstacle
McLaren’s difficulties are not solely linked to its customer-team status. As the reigning Constructors’ Champion at the end of the 2025 season, the team was also subjected to Formula 1’s Aerodynamic Testing Restrictions (ATR), which significantly reduced the amount of CFD simulations and wind tunnel testing available to its engineers.
Compared to teams further down the championship standings, McLaren has been forced to work with approximately 25% fewer aerodynamic development hours. Even with one of the strongest technical departments in Formula 1, that limitation may have played an important role in shaping the MCL40 and slowing the team’s progress under the new regulations.
A crucial upgrade package awaits in Hungary
In effect, McLaren has been dealing with two major disadvantages at the same time: adapting to a customer power unit while also operating under the strictest aerodynamic development limits on the grid.
Even so, the Woking outfit deserves credit for remaining ahead of Red Bull in the Constructors’ Championship. Unlike McLaren, Red Bull manufactures its own power unit through Red Bull Powertrains, yet the Milton Keynes-based team currently occupies fourth place and trails McLaren by more than 150 points.
Against this backdrop, the upgrade package scheduled to debut at the Hungarian Grand Prix could prove decisive. If the new components deliver the expected performance gains, McLaren hopes to reduce the gap to Ferrari and Mercedes and establish itself as a genuine contender at the front during the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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