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McLaren closed the gap to Mercedes with their upgrades at the Miami Grand Prix, and they could jump ahead of them if the FIA approves their latest aerodynamic innovation.
After a tough start to the season, the defending champions took a step forward at Suzuka, with Oscar Piastri coming close to winning. At the Miami Grand Prix, it was clear that McLaren, as well as Ferrari and Red Bull, had closed in on Mercedes.
George Russell described McLaren’s upgrades as ‘daunting’, as Lando Norris claimed the Sprint pole position and the win, with Piastri in P2. They could not replicate it on Sunday, with Kimi Antonelli keeping Mercedes 100% win streak going in 2026.
McLaren have set the pace in Miami as their upgrades pay off 🔥Is this the start of a real momentum shift?
Read the full Miami Sprint report here 👇
Nevertheless, the MCL40 has come a long way since the opening races of the season. Norris suggested that McLaren gained seven tenths on Mercedes in Miami, but they are still weak in high-speed areas.
The team will be working hard behind the scenes to close the gap even further. It has been suggested that their latest innovation could actually put them ahead of Mercedes.
McLaren are awaiting FIA approval to bring aerodynamic upgrade that will put them ahead of Mercedes
Journalist Julianne Cerasoli reported on her YouTube channel that McLaren are preparing to bring a new aerodynamic upgrade. She could not detail exactly what it is, but she claims it is something that will put them ahead of Mercedes.
The team need FIA approval to use it: “It’s possible, but even so, McLaren’s assessment is that they’re still a little way off catching up with Mercedes. It happens. That’s the important part of the answer,” said Cerasoli.
“They’re talking a lot, very confidently, saying, look, we’ve got more stuff for Canada and more stuff also coming to Monaco and coming to Barcelona.
“What I’ve gathered is that they have something, and I just haven’t managed to get to the bottom of what that thing is, but it’s something that’s in the FIA’s hands, to see whether the FIA approves or not, an aerodynamic change they have.
“If they approve it, if the FIA considers McLaren’s solution to be legal, it’s the kind of thing that will put them ahead of the pack. It’s a big deal. So let’s see if McLaren comes up with some ingenious innovation at the next race in Canada.”
READ MORE: All you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine
Can McLaren still win the 2026 F1 championship?
McLaren know that they are not quite on Mercedes’ level in 2026. But with 18 races to go, there are several opportunities for the Woking outfit to regain the advantage.
Norris is now 49 points behind Antonelli in the standings in P4, while Piastri is another eight points back in sixth. It sounds like a big margin, but as aforementioned, there is enough time to bridge the gap.
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Zak Brown firmly believes McLaren can still win titles in 2026. They currently sit 86 points behind Mercedes in the constructors’ championship.
It is a tough ask at the moment, but if the FIA deems their aerodynamic upgrade to be legal, it could change the whole picture.
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