Norris sixth, Piastri 13th as McLaren cite MCL40 inconsistency in Mexico

McLaren's promising final practice did not carry into Saturday qualifying at the Mexico City Grand Prix: Lando Norris qualified sixth and Oscar Piastri 13th. The team called it its worst Saturday result of 2026, although Norris had topped final practice and Piastri was fourth.

Piastri failed to reach Q3 after a sudden loss of rear grip on his final Q2 attempt, McLaren said. He said the MCL40 felt well-balanced in practice and the opening phase of qualifying, but behaved very differently when new tyres were fitted, despite only minor setup changes.

Team principal Andrea Stella said the car could become unpredictable when pushed to its limit, particularly in windy conditions on a slippery track. Even a small snap could lead to a sudden and costly loss of grip, he said.

Norris was third after his first Q3 run but aborted his second attempt after a messy corner. His time left him sixth, three-tenths off pole; McLaren said a place on the first two rows had been within reach.

For Sunday's race, McLaren said it would build on the strong long-run pace shown in practice, though it expects overtaking at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to be difficult. It still sees Norris as able to fight for a podium; Piastri's target is points.