McLaren set for Miami upgrade push as team seeks answers with MCL40

McLaren target Miami as crucial turning point

McLaren are expected to introduce a significant upgrade package for the MCL40 at the 2026 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, as the team looks to better understand – and unlock – the potential of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s car.

Mercedes have dominated the opening phase, with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli claiming every pole position and victory so far. Ferrari have also started strongly, sitting 45 points behind Mercedes but 44 points ahead of McLaren in the constructors’ standings.

A car still searching for its window

Since unveiling the MCL40 in pre-season testing, McLaren have made only limited adjustments. Updates introduced in Australia included a new rear wing and revisions to the floor and rear suspension, followed by a new rear brake winglet arrangement in China.

Those changes, combined with the team’s growing understanding of Mercedes’ 2026 power unit, helped Piastri come close to victory at the Japanese Grand Prix. The Australian was comfortably holding Russell at bay before both drivers lost out under the safety car.

Yet Piastri’s second-place finish at Suzuka masked deeper concerns. His strong pace in clear air, coupled with the resurfaced track, helped disguise what remains a clear lack of downforce and a high rate of tyre wear. While the result delivered McLaren’s first podium of the season, it did not eliminate the car’s underlying weaknesses.

According to FormulaTecnica, improving outright pace is the team’s primary objective for Miami. However, just as important is making the MCL40 “easier to understand.” McLaren believe they must establish a wider operating window to allow both Norris and Piastri to consistently extract performance.

Having designed the shortest car on the 2026 grid, the MCL40’s smaller floor has contributed to its downforce deficit. The upcoming developments are therefore expected not only to chase peak performance, but also to deliver greater balance and predictability.

Inconsistent race form and lost data

McLaren’s underlying inconsistency has been evident. While the car showed notable qualifying speed in Shanghai, race pace has generally been lacking.

The situation was compounded in China, where both Norris and Piastri failed to start due to separate issues with Mercedes’ battery. The double non-start deprived the team of a full race’s worth of data at a time when understanding the MCL40 is critical.

An April gap in the calendar has since provided McLaren with valuable preparation time ahead of Miami, now the next round after Formula 1 cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the current situation in the Middle East.

A historically strong venue

The Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May 1–3, could offer timely encouragement. McLaren have won the event in each of the past two seasons, through Norris in 2024 and Piastri in 2025.

This year, however, sentiment will matter less than substance. For McLaren, Miami represents more than a venue of past success — it is a crucial opportunity to redefine the trajectory of their 2026 campaign.

If the upgrade package succeeds in expanding the MCL40’s working window while improving its outright performance, the team may yet reinsert itself into the fight. If not, the early competitive order risks becoming entrenched.