McLaren confirm introduction of 'significant' upgrades
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- McLaren introduces a new rear wing at the Belgian Grand Prix and will deploy a more extensive upgrade package at the Hungarian Grand Prix to improve performance, aiming to close the gap to Mercedes and Ferrari
- McLaren fits both MCL40 race cars with Mercedes’ latest-spec internal combustion engine, the third power unit update of the season, which debuted with the works team at the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix
- Neil Houldey, McLaren technical director for applied engineering, stated the Spa upgrades will add only marginal performance and warned the team is not expecting a major leap in competitiveness at the Belgian Grand Prix
- Mercedes holds a 78-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors' championship, but team principal Toto Wolff cautioned that reliability issues have cost valuable points despite strong car pace
- Toto Wolff emphasized the need for Mercedes to achieve reliable finishes in Belgium and Hungary to convert performance into points before the summer break, calling recent results 'unacceptable' in a tight championship
Why it matters: McLaren’s mid-season upgrade push targets a 154-point deficit to Mercedes, but with only incremental gains expected at Spa, the real test comes in Hungary—where failure to close the gap risks ceding title control. For Mercedes, maintaining reliability is now as critical as pace, with every dropped point magnified in a three-way title fight.
