McLaren returned to the top of the podium in Formula 1, with Lando Norris’ victory at the Hungarian GP, but the reaction was not enough to convince most fans about a possible recovery in the title fight this year.
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A survey conducted by RacingNews365 showed that almost 58% of participants consider that the team is already too far from the lead. At the moment, McLaren occupies third place among the teams, 159 points behind the leader Mercedes.
The scenario is the result of a complicated first half of the season for the current constructors’ champion. Reliability problems, an overweight car, and lack of rear grip made the MCL40 appear only as the third or fourth fastest package in much of the first eleven rounds.
The situation also directly affected Norris and Oscar Piastri. The two drivers completed fewer race laps than almost all teams on the grid during this period, while three issues that prevented starts or race finishes significantly harmed McLaren’s points tally.
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The British team, however, showed significant progress at the Hungaroring after introducing a major update to the floor and side components of the car. The package finally allowed the MCL40 to deliver the performance expected by the team, enabling Norris to convert pole position into a dominant victory, McLaren’s first of the 2026 season.
Despite the progress, the gap to Mercedes remains significant. Therefore, the survey result indicates that, for the majority of fans surveyed, the triumph in Hungary represented an important performance recovery, but did not change the perception that McLaren is too far away to return to the title fight this year.
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