McLaren introduced upgrades to their MCL40 car during the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, aiming to improve their competitiveness amid challenging track conditions. Oscar Piastri, who missed the first practice session, drove in the second and finished eighth fastest without running the full upgrade package. Meanwhile, Lando Norris tested the full upgrade and posted the third fastest time behind Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
The upgrades focused on aerodynamic and mechanical improvements, with McLaren’s Senior Director of Racing, Randy Singh, confirming that the changes delivered the expected performance gains. Piastri noted that the upgrades on Norris’s car worked as anticipated but did not drastically alter the car’s overall performance. He planned to run the new floor upgrade on his car in the following session to better assess its impact.
Track conditions at the Hungaroring proved difficult due to recent resurfacing and windy weather, which affected grip levels for many drivers. Piastri described the situation as very challenging, highlighting that the team still faced a significant gap to the front runners. He observed that Ferrari appeared very quick, Norris remained competitive with the upgrades, and Mercedes’s pace was less clear after the Friday sessions.
Despite the challenges, Piastri expressed optimism that a strong execution on Saturday could open up opportunities for McLaren during the weekend. The team is cautiously hopeful that the upgrades represent a positive step forward in reducing the performance deficit they have experienced in recent races.
Randy Singh acknowledged the ongoing gap to the leading teams but emphasized that the upgrade package was designed to address specific areas of the car’s performance. The plan to run the new floor on Piastri’s car will provide further data to evaluate the effectiveness of the upgrades across different drivers and conditions.
As the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend progresses, McLaren continues to balance the challenges posed by the track and weather with their development efforts. The team’s approach reflects a measured attempt to improve competitiveness without overestimating the immediate impact of the upgrades.
This assessment from Piastri and Singh offers insight into McLaren’s current position in the championship and their technical progress at the Hungaroring, emphasizing the ongoing work needed to close the gap to the front of the grid.
