McLaren to phase F1 upgrades for podium bid and 2027 car development

McLaren’s next Formula 1 upgrades have two jobs: narrow the gap to the front in 2026 and test aerodynamic ideas for the 2027 car. Team principal Andrea Stella says the parts will arrive in phases; he hopes they can put McLaren in a position to fight for podiums on merit.

Stella said the upgrades also matter because McLaren is in a close fight for a championship position. Whether the team can challenge for victories may not become clear until the final three races of 2026, he added.

McLaren’s performance in Singapore was where Stella expected it to be, he said, while Red Bull had benefited from its own upgrades. He put Red Bull’s advantage over McLaren at about three-tenths of a second and said an upgrade could deliver a gain of that scale.

McLaren also wants to track-test fundamental aerodynamic concepts for the 2027 car. Stella said aerodynamic development had become complex after roughly two years of work, and that some concepts could work while others might not.