Garage · Car · 2026 · McLaren MCL40
McLaren's 2026-rules debut. Lighter than its predecessor, narrower in the front, dramatically more efficient through the high-speed corners that won 2025. Tested in 14 wind tunnels and not yet beaten on a real one.
Cleaner sheet design for the 2026 ground-effect rules. Pre-season correlation was the closest McLaren reported in five years.+0.4s baseline
Solved a high-speed exit problem first seen in Jeddah. Norris went from P3 quali to P1 in three rounds.+0.18s
Major mid-season rework. Sacrificed launch performance for kerb-riding gains; cost two grid penalties for assembly disputes.+0.12s
Originally a Monza one-off; retained for Vegas and Qatar. The team's first low-DF wing to beat Red Bull on the straight.+0.09s on straight
Calibration update at COTA, small power, larger driveability gain. ANT and HAM got the same.+0.06s
Bigger cooling apertures for 2,240m altitude. Heavier on the straights; will not be retained.-0.05s in clean air
TD-039 · 4 Oct 2026 · ACTIVE
Introduced after the Belgian GP. Forced McLaren to reduce front-wing flex by ~3mm at 100kg load. The team say it's worth a tenth they're confident they can recover via stiffness.
TD-041 · 22 Oct 2026 · CLARIFICATION
Issued after Austin. McLaren's adjustable-rake bib was on the leading edge of legality; the clarification doesn't change interpretation but tightens enforcement. Floor camera mandates added.
TD-027 · 8 May 2026 · CLEARED
Closed Mercedes-engine drivers' qualifying-mode advantage. McLaren were already compliant; the change cost Red Bull ~0.05s in pure quali pace.
Aero
Tyres
Straight-line
Reliability