Andrea Stella, the team principal of McLaren, has sounded a clear warning to the squad's rivals for the balance of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, emphasizing his belief that the Woking outfit can sustain any momentum it generates. The British outfit, fresh from clinching a long‑awaited victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix – the final race before the summer hiatus – showcased the speed of reigning drivers' champion Lando Norris, who dominated the weekend and secured both pole and the race win.
Norris's triumph narrowed the gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli to 91 points, while McLaren trimmed the deficit to Mercedes, Antonelli’s team, to 159 points in the constructors' standings. To keep his title hopes alive, Norris must also overtake Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Charles Leclerc, and Ferrari remain a solid 72 points behind Mercedes in the team battle.
Though these margins appear sizable, the performance surge following a comprehensive upgrade package delivered at the Hungaroring has given Stella confidence that McLaren can stay competitive throughout the remaining twelve rounds, beginning with the Dutch Grand Prix sprint weekend on 21‑23 August. When asked whether the team could re‑enter the fight for the world championships, Stella replied, “It’s a tough question, but the answer is straightforward. If we can replicate the form we displayed in Budapest, we still have a huge amount to achieve. The key is to keep pushing the development of the MCL40 and stay ahead of rivals who are also working hard on their own upgrades.” He added that the outcome will hinge on how effective the solutions they bring to the track prove to be.
“Early in the season we struggled more than we anticipated, but once we find a rhythm, we have shown we can keep it going,” he said. The 2026 calendar features a full slate of races, with 546 points still up for grabs across the remaining events.
Stella reminded everyone that there are still twelve opportunities to close the gaps in both championships. “The gaps are large, but we learned a valuable lesson last year. If we have built a new trophy cabinet at the McLaren Technology Centre, we have a responsibility to keep filling it,” he noted, underscoring the team’s determination to add more silverware. Looking back, McLaren entered the summer break last season in a very different position.
They led the constructors' table by 299 points, and teammate Oscar Piastri was ahead of Norris in what seemed to be a two‑horse battle for the drivers' crown. However, Max Verstappen of Red Bull mounted a dramatic comeback, cutting Piastri’s lead to just 104 points with nine races left and ultimately finishing the season only two points behind Norris and eleven ahead of Piastri. That experience reinforces Stella’s message that the championship can change quickly, and no lead is safe.
The Hungarian upgrade package, which McLaren had downplayed before the weekend, spoke for itself. Norris not only took pole but also posted blistering lap times in the race, eventually beating Verstappen by fifteen seconds. The margin could have been even larger if Norris had not been held up early on by teammate Piastri, who overtook him on the opening lap and caused a brief bottleneck. Stella reflected on the development process that led to the successful upgrades: “There wasn’t a single turning point; rather, it was a growing awareness of how big the challenge was and the adjustments we needed to make.
Ironically, the forced break in April allowed us to focus entirely on analysing the MCL40’s performance and to realise we had to redirect or strengthen development in specific areas.” He highlighted the Budapest weekend as the pivotal moment, not just because of the win but because the aerodynamic package introduced there represented a clear shift in the car’s development direction, delivering a noticeable step forward in competitiveness. The team’s collaboration with engine supplier Mercedes has also been a focal point. Stella praised the joint effort to optimise the new Mercedes HPP power unit, stating, “In recent months we have deepened our understanding of the new power unit and worked closely with our technical partners to extract the maximum performance.” He acknowledged that while progress is evident, fine‑tuning the power unit will remain a complex task throughout the rest of the 2026 season.
As the sport returns from the summer break, the Dutch Grand Prix will host a sprint weekend, providing another chance for McLaren to test their upgrades under race conditions. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available via NOW without a long‑term contract.
The team’s message is clear: maintain the momentum built in Budapest, continue evolving the MCL40, and keep pressing the competition on all fronts. If they can do that, the gaps in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships can be narrowed, and the trophy cabinet at the Technology Centre can continue to grow.