McLaren MCL40

Development context

Significant changes to the technical regulations were introduced for 2026, affecting both the chassis and power unit. In general, these changes simplified the power unit and increased the share of energy generated by the electric motor compared to the combustion engine, as well as reducing the overall size and weight of the car and reducing the amount of downforce aerodynamic surfaces can generate.^{[citation needed]}

Mercedes AMG HPP, McLaren's engine supplier since 2021, was subject to scrutiny over the winter break as it emerged their engine exploited a measurement loophole in the power unit regulations. The compression ratio of the combustion engine was restricted in the 2026 regulations, which would reduce the amount of power the engine could produce. However, the compression ratio was measured by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) at ambient temperatures. Mercedes was able to find a manufacturing technique that would allow the compression ratio to expand when the engine was hot, allowing it to produce more power while still complying with the FIA test.^[5]

Auction

Unusually, McLaren auctioned the rights to an MCL40 with RM Sotheby's before the season began.^[6][7] The car sold for US$11,480,000. Its owner will be able to select which driver's chassis to receive, and it will be delivered in a running condition in 2028.^[8]

Livery

The MCL40 used a one-off black and silver geometric livery for the private pre-season test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.^[9] The MCL40 livery is similar to the MCL39, featuring more orange on the engine cover and front wing to comply with the new livery regulation and introduced a dark green airbox and mirrors for sponsor Allwyn Entertainment.^[10][11] This maintained McLaren's practice of retaining the livery of a successful car for the following season.^[12] As with all McLaren cars since the MCL35, the car's livery is applied with vinyl wrap rather than paint.^[13]

At the Monaco and Barcelona-Catalunya Grands Prix, McLaren raced a special livery to celebrate its 1,000th Grand Prix. The livery consists of a bespoke metallic papaya orange and anthracite livery and features the numbers 0001 and 1000 adorning the sidepods. The livery also contain details recognising the history of the team (such as the Bruce McLaren Motor Racing logo on the base of halo) and important milestones (such as the race dates of the first and 1,000th Grand Prix above the numbers 0001 and 1000, respectively).^[14][15] For the British Grand Prix, McLaren collaborated with Google Gemini to launch a special livery based on the M2B to celebrate the team's beginnings.^[16]

Initial design and early development

Initial work on the car began in 2024.^[1] Chief designer Rob Marshall stated that McLaren would not deliver any significant changes to the car between the private test and the opening round of the season. Marshall stated McLaren's priority would be understanding how the 2026 regulation cars worked before pursuing performance improvements.^[17] Marshall identified packaging for radiators and electrical boxes as a particular challenge given the reduced size of the car.^[18]

Opening rounds

Piastri qualified fifth and Norris sixth for the Australian Grand Prix.^[19] Piastri did not start the Grand Prix after crashing on a reconnaissance lap, which he said was caused by "a large element of [him]", but also the energy deployment rules of the electric motor unexpectedly delivering 100 kW (130 hp) more power than expected.^[20] Norris finished fifth after battling with Max Verstappen.^[21]

After finishing the sprint fourth and sixth in China, neither driver started the race due to power unit issues. This was the team's first double non-start since the 2005 United States Grand Prix.^[22]

At the Japanese Grand Prix, Piastri qualified third and Norris fifth. Piastri took the race lead at the start; he opted to change tyres on lap 18 to avoid the risk of Charles Leclerc undercutting him, though lost his advantage during a safety car period.^[23] Piastri finished second, and Norris fifth.^[24]

The MCL40 was used in a two-day tyre test in April for sole supplier Pirelli at the Nürburgring. Piastri completed 66 laps and Norris 108.^[25]. In that same period, the originally scheduled April dates of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix were called off due to the impact of the 2026 Iran war.^[23] Stella announced that "an entirely new MCL40" would be introduced over the two North American races following the break.^[26]

After the hiatus, McLaren took advantage with their upgrades in the 2026 Miami Grand Prix and thus, claiming Norris a sprint pole and a sprint win. In the main race, both Norris and Piastri finished 2nd and 3rd respectively, just behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, with the former having his first podium as defending champion.

Mid-season rounds

For a special commemoration of reaching 1000 Grands Prix, the MCL40 had a special livery for Monaco, making McLaren the second team to reach that milestone since Ferrari in the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix. After starting 7th and 8th, the team had a bittersweet race with Lando retiring for the second consecutive time due to a battery related issue as Piastri bags 5th place, originally 4th before Gasly's podium was overturned.