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Martin Brundle observes Oscar Piastri struggling to adapt to 2026 regulations after a strong 2025 season. Piastri currently sits seventh in the standings, trailing championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 221 points as McLaren faces car adaptability issues.
Lando Norris qualified eighth for the United States Grand Prix after a track limits penalty at Turn 19 relegated him from sixth. The McLaren driver described the MCL40 as the hardest car he has ever driven due to inconsistent handling and slow-corner performance.
McLaren introduces new upgrades and floor changes at the United States Grand Prix to address braking reliability and test 2027 development concepts. The team currently holds 339 points in the constructors' standings as they attempt to defend third place against a surging Red Bull.
Oscar Piastri believes McLaren will not find magic answers for its performance issues before the 2026 season ends. Team principal Andrea Stella suggests underlying problems with the MCL40 may not be resolved until the 2027 car, leaving McLaren with a narrow 7 point lead over Red Bull.
McLaren has confirmed Leonardo Fornaroli as its 2027 Formula 1 reserve and third driver. The Italian driver will also join the team's World Endurance Championship programme to develop the new McLaren Hypercar and compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown is auctioning five iconic Formula 1 cars through Tom Hartley Jr. to keep the team's heritage active. The collection features machinery driven by Ayrton Senna and Lewis Hamilton, with total values potentially reaching between five and 10 million pounds.
Andrea Stella revealed McLaren struggled to isolate if Baku upgrades caused performance drops after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri faced pace issues. The team also dealt with an unacceptable collision between the drivers during the Singapore Sprint, prompting calls for contract changes.
Andrea Stella admits McLaren cannot fix car handling characteristics without fundamental changes arriving in 2027. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri struggle with a car described as being on a knife edge, requiring intense mental concentration to maintain competitiveness.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided during the Singapore Sprint, resulting in Piastri hitting the wall and Norris finishing eighth. Zak Brown and Andrea Stella condemned the incident as unacceptable, emphasizing the need for drivers to prioritize team interests over individual moves.
Red Bull has extended Laurent Mekies' contract as team principal through 2031 following his promotion to replace Christian Horner. The team also saw Max Verstappen secure wins in Malaysia and Singapore as they attempt to close the gap on McLaren in the championship standings.
McLaren transitioned to a push-rod front suspension for the MCL40 to accommodate 2026 aerodynamic regulations. Chief designer Rob Marshall notes the new front wing real estate allows wishbones to manage airflow more effectively than the previous pull-rod setup.
George Russell's Mercedes W17 single-lap speed faces Lando Norris's McLaren MCL40 race-pace consistency at the Austin circuit. High tire degradation at COTA favors the McLaren's superior long-run stability over the Mercedes energy management challenges.