Sports · Motorsport · 2 hrs ago
McLaren plans phased upgrades for current F1 fight and next season
McLaren is planning staged upgrades to its Formula 1 car after the Singapore race.
Team principal Andrea Stella says the changes are meant to help the team close the performance gap to the fastest cars and compete for podiums on merit.
Driver Lando Norris has described McLaren’s car as the fourth-fastest on the grid.
Stella said Red Bull had gained ground by bringing successful upgrades, while McLaren and Red Bull are close in the championship points standings.
McLaren also wants to use the new parts to test aerodynamic ideas that could shape next season’s car.
The team expects to deliver the upgrades in phases, and Stella says the final three races may show whether McLaren can fight for wins.
McLaren plans to bring upgrades in phases to improve its performance in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The team also wants to test aerodynamic concepts that could shape next year’s car.
Team principal Andrea Stella said the upgrades are intended to help McLaren close the gap to the leading cars and fight for podiums on merit.
He said whether the team can challenge for victories should become clearer in the last three races.
Lando Norris has described McLaren’s car as the fourth-fastest on the grid.
- Who
- McLaren, led by team principal Andrea Stella.
- What
- The team plans phased car upgrades to improve its current performance and test concepts for next year’s car.
- When
- Following the Singapore race in 2026; Stella said the final three races should help show whether McLaren can fight for victories.
- Where
- Singapore was the setting for the race discussed. The team is based in Woking.
- Why
- McLaren wants to close the gap to the leading cars, contend for podiums and assess aerodynamic concepts for next year.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Andrea Stella outlined McLaren’s phased upgrade plan and its aims for the current season and next year.
Stella said the team would probably have to wait until then to judge whether it could fight for victories.
- Team principal
- Andrea Stella
- Driver
- Lando Norris, reigning champion
- Upgrade approach
- Upgrades will be delivered in phases
- Target
- Close the gap to the best cars and fight for podiums on merit
- Next season
- Test fundamental aerodynamic concepts for next year’s car
What people are saying
We do plan to deliver some upgrades
We hope that they will be able to fill this gap that we have to the best cars and put McLaren in condition to fight for podiums on merit.
just full on and mentally draining because of how hard you have to work behind the wheel.
Sources
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