McLaren to use final 2026 upgrades to shape next year’s car

McLaren plans to use its final 2026 car upgrades for two purposes: improving its results this season and testing ideas for its 2027 design. The parts are due to arrive in phases over the next three rounds, giving the team a chance to assess the package at circuits with different characteristics.

Three rounds will test McLaren’s final upgrade package

After the Singapore Grand Prix, team principal Andrea Stella outlined the plan for updates across Austin, Mexico City and São Paulo. McLaren hopes the new parts will narrow the gap to the leading cars and put it in a position to fight for podiums on merit.

Stella said the team would need to see how the upgrades perform before judging whether a victory was within reach. Their phased arrival means McLaren will have the final three races to evaluate them, while continuing to contest its position in the constructors’ standings.

The programme follows McLaren’s phased upgrade plan for 2026 and next season, with the late-season running also intended to inform the team’s next car.

Aerodynamic trials will inform the 2027 concept

McLaren wants to test fundamental concepts that could form part of its 2027 car. Stella said aerodynamic development had reached a level of complexity where some ideas might work and others might not, making track testing valuable before the team carries those principles forward.

He described the late-season programme as a chance to verify which underlying concepts are sound. That gives the final updates a role beyond their immediate performance: the team can gather evidence on potential foundations for next year’s design while competing in the current championship.

Red Bull’s challenge adds urgency to the updates

McLaren’s immediate target is to close the performance gap, but its championship position is also under pressure. Red Bull moved to within seven points after the Singapore Grand Prix, while Ferrari held second place 105 points ahead of McLaren. A maximum of 258 points remained available, assuming the rest of the season went ahead as scheduled.

The standings fight makes the remaining rounds important for McLaren on two fronts: the team wants its new parts to help this year and to test concepts for the season ahead. The US Grand Prix standings permutations underline the pressure created by Red Bull’s pursuit.