McLaren revitalizes 2026 F1 season with upgrades and Norris victory

McLaren has seen a resurgence in the 2026 Formula 1 season following a significant upgrade package to the MCL40. This development proved successful at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Lando Norris secured his first victory as reigning world champion, dominating the field despite previous reliability issues.

Team Principal Andrea Stella expressed satisfaction with the strengthened working relationship between drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Despite their intense title battle in 2025, Stella noted that the duo has developed a stronger partnership and improved synergy with the team.

However, the team continues to face challenges as a customer team using Mercedes power units. Stella highlighted a ‘knowledge gap’ regarding power unit exploitation under complex new regulations, though the team has recently acquired advanced simulation tools to help bridge this disparity. The performance gap has led to internal discussions regarding whether McLaren should eventually pursue independent engine development, similar to Red Bull.