Andrea Stella says Singapore delivered the clearest read yet on McLaren’s MCL40, resolving doubts raised by the Baku upgrade and confirming the package itself did not compromise baseline performance.

The bodywork changes centred on sidepods and cooling, aimed at straight-line efficiency for Baku’s long back straight. Early returns were underwhelming in Baku and Bahrain, triggering internal questions.

Complicating matters, Sepang’s rough surface distorted correlation, while both cars carried the new spec immediately, removing an in-weekend reference. That combination made performance attribution difficult and fed uncertainty.

Stella accepts the team never expected a big lap-time leap from Baku, but concedes the lack of A/B comparison bred suspicion. Singapore’s more typical conditions restored confidence in the direction.

The contrast to last season is stark. Norris won the drivers’ title and McLaren secured consecutive constructors’ crowns, but that momentum fades as this campaign exposes thinner performance margins.

The competitive picture is less forgiving. McLaren sits third, 239 points adrift of Mercedes, with Red Bull only seven behind, underlining an ongoing season crisis if results stagnate.

Form has swung. Lando Norris won twice and podiumed in Hungary, Zandvoort and Madrid. He finished ninth in Bahrain and fourth in Singapore. Oscar Piastri’s last four peaked at fifth.

McLaren’s analysis points to power unit deployment and gear ratios costing time on long straights, masking aero gains. That nuance explains Baku’s deficit and reduces likelihood of an aero misstep.

Singapore improved correlation and simplified the narrative: the car’s pace floor is intact, and development can proceed. That fits with McLaren’s broader 2026 upgrades plan and validates the engineering roadmap.

Attention now turns to extracting power unit efficiency and unlocking chassis performance across varied layouts. Races ahead will stress cooling, traction and high-speed balance, demanding adaptable setups and robust execution.

With clarity restored, McLaren targets consistent speed and sharper weekends to protect third and attack Mercedes. The Baku upgrade package remains part of that push, not root of the slump.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.