Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
Team principal Andrea Stella believes McLaren have “a lot of room” for improvements after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri drove their 2026 car at the Barcelona shakedown.
McLaren did not have a completely smooth test in Montmelo last week, as Norris and Piastri were both only able to post limited mileage during their respective first days at the wheel of the MCL40. Piastri, especially, spent a lot of time in the garage due to a fuel system issue.
The Woking squad turned a corner to end the test on a high, but their total lap count of 291 was only the seventh-best tally among the 10 teams in Spain. Williams had to miss the 2026 Barcelona shakedown, while Audi, Cadillac and Aston Martin recorded 240, 164 and 65 laps.
Piastri immediately felt McLaren’s 2026 car is more “agile” with the new smaller front wings required under the latest regulations, which he considers to be a “positive” change. F1 also introduced new engine, chassis, tyre and further aerodynamic changes with the 2026 rules.
Prove him wrong: Lando Norris believes George Russell is an F1 champion in the making
Andrea Stella feels McLaren have more scope to ‘exploit’ F1’s 2026 active aerodynamics
Stella feels McLaren still have a lot to learn about their new engine that Mercedes have built to the 2026 F1 regulations. Formula 1 has increased the electrical power split from 20/80 to nearly 50/50, removed the MGU-H and also obligated the use of advanced sustainable fuels.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and aero regulations
Also, Stella believes McLaren have a lot more scope to help Norris and Piastri utilise the new active front and rear aero in 2026. Drivers can now use moveable front and rear wings in set zones to reduce drag, before the wings revert to their high downforce mode for the corners.
“One of the areas where there’s a lot of room for improvement is the exploitation of the new power unit and all the options available to the driver,” Stella said, via Motorsport.com.
“There’s also great potential to be exploited in the management of the variable aerodynamic configuration, referring to the alternation between corner mode and straight mode.”
McLaren are expected to be near the top of the early 2026 F1 pecking order
Who will be McLaren’s top driver in 2026 – Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri? 🤔
While the Barcelona shakedown was not classified as an official test, as F1 had feared teams would encounter reliability issues and it is said that the Bahrain International Circuit paid to have the first official test of the 2026 regulations cycle, a pecking order did begin to emerge.
The F1 paddock is backing McLaren to be Mercedes’ main rival in 2026, as many expect the two teams will move clear of Ferrari and Red Bull as the season progresses after what they saw in Spain. Mercedes’ 2026 F1 rules engine has long been tipped to be the best, as well.
The two Bahrain tests on February 11-13 and 18-20 should lead to a clear image of the 2026 pecking order, ahead of the first race in Australia on March 6-8. McLaren won in Melbourne with Norris in 2025 to start what proved to be a drivers’ and constructors’ title-winning year.
Receive exclusive F1 news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
