McLaren has confirmed that it will continue developing its car for the 2026 Formula 1 season, after the update package that debuted at the Hungarian GP delivered the expected results. The team is already planning new parts for the upcoming rounds and is still evaluating how long it will keep focusing on the MCL40.
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The performance at Hungaroring reinforced the team’s confidence in the chosen path. The updates allowed both drivers to fight for victory, with Lando Norris securing his first win this year and also his first pole position of the season. Even so, McLaren understands that there are still important areas to improve before deciding when to concentrate all resources on the 2027 car.
Nick Houldey, McLaren’s Technical Director of Applied Engineering, explained that the schedule already includes new developments after the August break: “At the moment, we have small updates coming in the next sequence of rounds, and potentially something more significant for Baku. After that, it will depend on whether we find relevant aerodynamic gains after the break and evaluate if it is worth a package for the end of the season or to completely shift focus to next year’s car,” he said.
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According to Houldey, the work is not only focused on increasing downforce. The director revealed that the drivers’ feedback showed that the MCL40 remains a car that is difficult to extract consistent performance from: “The drivers gave good feedback on the car’s behavior, and it is clear that it is not easy to drive. It was positive to see our performance in the last race, but there are development opportunities to increase the car’s basic performance with more downforce and, at the same time, make it easier for the drivers to find lap time, both in qualifying and in the race,” the director concluded.
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