Lando Norris has expressed cautious optimism regarding McLaren’s latest upgrade package introduced for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix. While acknowledging it as the team’s most significant upgrade of the year, Norris urges patience, reflecting on earlier updates that did not fully meet expectations.
The upgrade, which includes a new floor and aerodynamic components, aims to improve McLaren’s performance by enhancing grip and speed. Norris highlighted that qualifying pace remains a key challenge for the team, with McLaren still trailing the frontrunners in this area. However, he believes the package could help address some of these issues and improve race pace, building on the team’s recent strong showings at Spa and Miami.
Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, also shared a positive outlook on the upgrade’s potential to make the car faster and more competitive. Piastri’s consistent top-five finishes this season, though without a podium since Miami, underline the importance of any performance gains the upgrade might deliver.
McLaren’s history at the Hungaroring includes strong results, with 1-2 finishes in the previous two seasons. However, both drivers have tempered expectations for 2026, not anticipating a repeat of that exact outcome but hoping to narrow the gap to the leading teams. Norris’s emphasis on patience reflects a realistic approach, given that some earlier upgrades this year fell short of their intended impact.
The team’s focus remains on improving qualifying performance, which continues to be a limiting factor. The upgrade package is part of McLaren’s ongoing efforts to enhance competitiveness throughout the season, particularly in areas where the car has shown weaknesses.
Overall, the comments from Norris and Piastri suggest a measured but hopeful stance on the Hungarian upgrade. While the package is described as the biggest of the year for McLaren, the drivers are clear that its full effect remains to be seen and that patience is necessary as the team assesses its impact on track performance.
