McLaren’s ‘masterpiece’ new front wing has transformed Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s MCL40

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McLaren succeeding with their goal to increase the effectiveness of the active aero on their front wing upgrade at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix has had a much bigger pay-off.

Miami saw the arrival of an array of upgrades throughout the paddock earlier this month, as 10 of the 11 teams revealed their efforts that had been refined over a five-week break in the calendar. McLaren were one of the busiest teams in Florida, as they revealed seven updates.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri relished the efforts of McLaren’s engineers, as their upgraded front and rear corner furniture, engine cover, sidepod inlet and front wing helped to register the team’s best weekend of 2026 so far. Although, Mercedes only ran two updates in Miami.

Thanks to McLaren’s upgrades, Norris won the Miami Sprint from pole position in a papaya one-two ahead of Piastri. And while Andrea Kimi Antonelli won the Miami GP from pole for Mercedes, Norris might have won the Grand Prix if McLaren had pitted him one lap sooner.

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McLaren’s upgraded front wing in Miami substantially improved the MCL40’s aerodynamic balance

McLaren’s new front wing update introduced at the Miami GP was central to their efforts in Florida, according to RacingNews365. The Woking squad based the ‘entire evolution’ of the MCL40 around a ‘redesigned’ front wing, which has been dubbed a ‘technical masterpiece’.

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The papaya crew modified the flap profiles to enhance the curvature towards the sidewalls to increase the effectiveness of the front wing when Norris and Piastri are in straight mode. McLaren hoped that the modifications could maximise the difference when the wing drops.

McLaren’s upgraded front wing also resulted in them generating more downforce from the floor on the MCL40. The wing also ‘substantially’ improved their car’s overall aerodynamic balance, thanks to the increased outwash effect better directing the air along the sidepods.

McLaren are set to make further changes to their front wing at the Canadian Grand Prix

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Despite the progress that McLaren made with their front wing upgrade at the Miami GP, the Woking squad are believed to be planning further changes for the Canadian Grand Prix later this month. SoyMotor claims that McLaren still believe the MCL40 is not the finished article.

McLaren confirmed that they only took some of their upgrades to Miami, with it suggested that they revealed 60% of their package in Florida, with further updates due to be revealed in Canada on May 22-24. Now, those upgrades are said to focus on the front wing and nose.

It is understood that McLaren want to update their nose and front wing concepts further in Montreal to try to improve how the airflow interacts with their front suspension. It remains to be seen what other updates McLaren may yet have in store for the Canadian GP, as well.