McLaren to phase remaining upgrades to close gap and shape 2026 car concept

McLaren will roll out a series of phased upgrades over the final races of the Formula 1 season, with team principal Andrea Stella confirming the plan serves a dual purpose: closing the performance gap to the leading cars and validating aerodynamic concepts destined for the 2026 machine.

The announcement follows a difficult Singapore Grand Prix, where reigning champion Lando Norris described the McLaren as the fourth-fastest car on the grid — a situation he called “just full on and mentally draining because of how hard you have to work behind the wheel.”

Stella said the team’s relative lack of pace in recent rounds was not unexpected, pointing to Red Bull’s successful upgrade cycle as a key factor in the shifting competitive order. “It was good to see that here in Singapore we are where we expected to be,” he told journalists. “Verstappen and Red Bull, they are just taking advantage of the upgrades that they have delivered. And it’s what we call this season the ping-pong.”

He explained that even modest upgrade packages can swing the competitive picture significantly at this stage of the season. “When people come with upgrades they can take a little step forward. And even if here Red Bull when they were kind of dominant, but compared to us they had three tenths of a second. And three tenths of a second is a range that you can add with an upgrade.”

Stella confirmed upgrades are coming but cautioned that the timeline means the full picture may not emerge until the final three races. “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,” he said. “And then whether we can fight for the victory — I think we will have to see probably the last three races, because the upgrades will be delivered in phases.”

Beyond the immediate championship fight, Stella stressed that the upgrades carry added significance as a proving ground for next year’s regulations. “We also want to prove some of the fundamental concepts that we’ll carry into next year’s car,” he said, noting that after roughly two years of development on the current platform, the aerodynamic picture is becoming increasingly complex and some directions may not yield the expected gains.

McLaren currently sit in a tight battle for a top championship position, making the timing and effectiveness of each upgrade package critical for both 2025 results and long-term competitiveness heading into the new regulatory era.