Skip to content
https://shop.fervogear.com/cart
McLaren Drivers Reveal Key Areas to Improve After British GP
Highlights
- Lando Norris finished fourth and third in 2026 British GP and Sprint
- McLaren’s MCL40 lacked grip and downforce throughout the race
- Oscar Piastri suffered front wing damage, finishing 11th after early pit stop
- McLaren plans upgrades to improve car handling and pace soon
- Norris trails championship leader by 82 points with 13 races remaining
Lando Norris says McLaren must make gains after the 2026 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where fourth in the race and third in the Sprint exposed grip and downforce shortcomings.
The MCL40 lacked load in high‑speed sections and stability in transitions, leaving Ferrari and Mercedes with a sustainable pace advantage through Silverstone’s long, flowing sequences.
Norris also flagged a sub‑optimal launch, a repeat concern around bite point and tyre prep that, as his post‑race verdict outlined, McLaren must audit before Spa and other high‑energy venues.
“The car just wasn’t very nice today” — Norris on the MCL40’s balance and confidence limits
Positions came via issues for Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen, but the underlying deficit remained. Norris described the car as unpleasant to drive, with limited confidence on turn‑in and traction.
Even so, fourth on Sunday and a Sprint podium were efficient damage limitation. He trails Antonelli by 82 points with 13 rounds left, making progress urgent.
Development focus is immediate. McLaren plans upgrades aimed at load, balance, and ride, building on parts evaluated at Silverstone; the goal is broader operating windows and less sensitivity to wind.
Power unit timing also matters, with an engine upgrade delay stretching expectations on straight‑line and deployment gains. That places even greater emphasis on chassis and aero efficiency.
Norris sits 82 points behind Antonelli with 13 races remaining — development pace now defines his title ceiling
Oscar Piastri’s race unraveled on lap one. Contact in the Turn 6 squeeze damaged his front wing, forced an early stop, and dropped him into traffic he never escaped.
The offset left him outside the points in 11th. With the MCL40 sensitive in dirty air, tyre warm‑up and degradation profiles prevented a recovery through slower midfield cars.
Piastri finished 11th after early front wing damage and a compromised strategy
Silverstone underlined McLaren’s current profile: competitive on execution, short on absolute load. To fight Ferrari and Mercedes weekly, the car needs more downforce without worsening drag or balance spread.
There is still upside. If the next steps land, Norris and Piastri can convert opportunistic results into consistent podiums while keeping strategic errors and start execution under tighter control.
Visual Summary
💨
Norris -82 pts
Behind Antonelli
4th
Race
3rd
Sprint
🛠️
Room to Improve
Room to Improve
McLaren still climbs, but Ferrari & Mercedes are further up the mountain. Norris calls the car “not very nice”, but says upgrades & grit will keep the team in the fight.
🚦
🦾
⏳
🦾
⏳
13 races left — Can McLaren climb higher?
James William covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to sprint-race formats. His reports include prototype performance reviews, GT class battles, and pit-stop strategy insights for endurance-racing fans.
