McLaren brings upgrades to Austin to improve braking reliability

McLaren targets braking reliability and 2027 development

McLaren brings a selection of upgrades to the United States Grand Prix to fix performance issues and improve braking reliability. The team also brings small floor changes to test fundamental concepts for the 2027 car. Andrea Stella says these changes aim to help the team fight for podiums and victories. McLaren enters this weekend with 339 points in the constructors’ standings, trailing Ferrari by 105 points while fending off a Red Bull charge that has narrowed the gap to just seven points following consecutive wins for Max Verstappen. The team enters the final quarter of a season defined by momentum swings after a difficult period where the 33-point haul over three races fell significantly short of expectations. This leaves the team vulnerable in their pursuit to join Mercedes on the podium. Stella notes that aerodynamics are becoming complex after two years of development that began on January 2, 2025. He says that while some concepts may work, others may fail because of this complexity. Rob Marshall says the team is getting stronger again and expects Austin to be a better circuit for the car. He notes that practice will be important to correlate what the team sees in development tools with the track.

Norris apologizes for Singapore collision

The team seeks to move past the Singapore Sprint, where Lando Norris collided with Oscar Piastri at Turn 5. This incident, which Norris described as an "ill-advised move," resulted in Norris finishing P8 and Piastri finishing P5. The collision cost the team eight points during the Sprint. Lando Norris told the media, "I take responsibility for my mistakes, and I learn from them." He said his aim is to repay the hard work everyone puts in by improving, making better decisions, and representing the team in the best possible way. Bernie Collins observed that Max Verstappen maximized the result in Singapore while McLaren did not, calling the accident a "silly example" of the team failing to maximize results. Karun Chandhok noted that McLaren now faces concerns because they might have the fourth-fastest car. Hadjar missing three races when Liam Lawson was in the Red Bull car meant Red Bull was not scoring as many points as they could have, which helped McLaren’s position. Red Bull’s resurgence means they must improve to keep their third-place standing. The team faces pressure to avoid similar missed opportunities in Austin, where they had little room for error after the 2025 chain reaction.

Marshall expects better performance in Austin

Rob Marshall says Austin is a better circuit for the McLaren car. He describes the package as a "modest selection" of parts intended to address reliability and performance issues. He says it is difficult to predict the relative performance of top teams because cars are being upgraded, cars are suiting, and drivers like certain circuits. Stella says the team wants to prove fundamental concepts for next year. He notes that as they push aerodynamic development, they will see some things work and others fail. The team will focus on finding the best balance for the whole lap using the full range of corner types at the circuit. Marshall says the team is still learning how to extract performance from the car, and he expects the upgrades to help them fight for podiums on merit and eventually victory. Marshall noted that practice remains essential to correlate what the team sees in development tools with the track surface, and the team intends to see if the small floor changes provide the desired aerodynamic benefit.