McLaren MCL40

McLaren MCL40
Lando Norris drives the MCL40 at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorMcLaren
DesignerRob Marshall (Chief Designer)
PredecessorMcLaren MCL39
Technical specifications[1]
ChassisCarbon fibre composite
EngineMercedes-AMG F1 M17 E Performance
1.6 L (98 cu in) direct injection V6 turbocharged engine limited to 15,000 RPM in a mid-mounted, rear-wheel drive layout
Electric motorMercedes-AMG
Kinetic energy recovery system
TransmissionMcLaren 8-speed + 1 reverse sequential seamless semi-automatic transmission operated via paddle shifters.
BatteryLithium-ion battery
FuelPetronas[2]
LubricantsPetronas
Tyres
Competition history
Notable entrantsMcLaren Mastercard F1 Team
Notable drivers
Debut2026 Australian Grand Prix
Last event2026 Chinese Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
20000

The McLaren MCL40 is a Formula One car constructed by McLaren and designed under the direction of Rob Marshall to compete in the 2026 Formula One World Championship. It is driven by reigning world champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in their eighth and fourth seasons with the team respectively.[3]

Background

Development context

Further information: 2026 Formula One World Championship § Regulation changes

Significant changes to the technical regulations were introduced for 2026, affecting both the chassis and power unit. In general, these changes simplified the power unit and increased the share of energy generated by the electric motor compared to the combustion engine, as well as reducing the overall size and weight of the car and reducing the amount of downforce aerodynamic surfaces can generate.

Mercedes AMG HPP, McLaren's engine supplier since 2021, was subject to scrutiny over the winter break as it emerged their engine exploited a measurement loophole in the power unit regulations. The compression ratio of the combustion engine was restricted in the 2026 regulations, which would reduce the amount of power the engine could produce. However, the compression ratio was measured by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) at ambient temperatures. Mercedes was able to find a manufacturing technique that would allow the compression ratio to expand when the engine was hot, allowing it to produce more power while still complying with the FIA test.[4]

Auction

Unusually, McLaren auctioned the rights to an MCL40 with RM Sotheby's before the season began.[5][6] The car sold for US$11,480,000. Its owner will be able to select which driver's chassis to receive, and it will be delivered in a running condition in 2028.[7]

Livery

See also: Formula One sponsorship liveries § McLaren

The MCL40 used a one-off black and silver geometric livery for the private pre-season test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.[8] The MCL40 livery is similar to the MCL39, featuring more orange on the engine cover and front wing, and introduces a dark green airbox and mirrors for sponsor Allwyn Entertainment.[9] This maintained McLaren's practice of retaining the livery of a successful car for the following season.[10] As with all McLaren cars since the MCL35, the car's livery is applied with vinyl wrap rather than paint.[11]

Initial design and early development

Initial work on the car began in 2024.[1] Chief designer Rob Marshall stated that McLaren would not deliver any significant changes to the car between the private test and the opening round of the season. Marshall stated McLaren's priority would be understanding how the 2026 regulation cars worked before pursuing performance improvements.[12] Marshall identified packaging for radiators and electrical boxes as a particular challenge given the reduced size of the car.[13]

Competition and development history

Opening rounds

Piastri qualified fifth and Norris sixth for the Australian Grand Prix.[14] Piastri did not start the Grand Prix after crashing on a reconnaissance lap, which he said was caused by "a large element of [him]", but also the energy deployment rules of the electric motor unexpectedly delivering 100 kW more power than expected.[15] Norris finished fifth after battling with Max Verstappen.[16] The following race, the Chinese Grand Prix, was McLaren's 1,000th Grand Prix entry, and after finishing the sprint and fourth and sixth they completely failed to start the race due to power unit issues. This also marked their first double non-start since the 2005 United States Grand Prix.

Complete Formula One results

Key
Key
Colour Result
Gold Winner
Silver Second place
Bronze Third place
Green Other points position
Blue Other classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
Purple Not classified, retired (Ret)
Red Did not qualify (DNQ)
Black Disqualified (DSQ)
White Did not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (empty cell)
Annotation Meaning
P Pole position
F Fastest lap
Superscript
number 		Points-scoring position
in sprint
Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers Grands Prix Points WCC
AUS CHN JPN MIA CAN MON BCN AUT GBR BEL HUN NED ITA ESP AZE SIN USA MXC SAP LVG QAT ABU
2026 McLaren F1 Team Mercedes-AMG P Lando Norris 5 DNS4 Race: DNS; Sprint: 4 18* 3rd*
Oscar Piastri DNS DNS6 Race: DNS; Sprint: 6
Source:

* Season still in progress.

References

  1. ^ a b "The MCL40 is here: Behind the design and what to expect from McLaren Mastercard's 2026 challenger". McLaren. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  2. ^ "PETRONAS Trackside Fluid Engineers Fuelling Formula One's Innovation". Petronas. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
  3. ^ "The 2026 F1 grid: Every confirmed driver". The Race. 2 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  4. ^ Cleeren, Filip (9 February 2026). "Compression ratio saga "typical politics of F1", says McLaren's Zak Brown". Motorsport.com Australia. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  5. ^ Baldwin, Alan (14 August 2025). Ferris, Ken (ed.). "McLaren to auction 2026 F1 car before it has been raced". Reuters. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  6. ^ "2026 McLaren Formula 1 Team MCL40A". RM Sotheby's. 19 November 2025. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  7. ^ Pruett, Marshall (6 December 2025). "McLaren raises $19.9 million with 'Triple Crown' auction in Abu Dhabi". RACER. Irvine. ISSN 1066-6060. Archived from the original on 6 December 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  8. ^ Boxall-Legge, Jake (26 January 2026). "McLaren reveals renders of new MCL40 F1 car". Autosport. Motorsport Network.
  9. ^ "McLaren MCL40 launch: World champions reveal familiar livery for Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri in 2026 F1 season". Sky Sports F1. 9 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  10. ^ "MCL40 launch". McLaren. Archived from the original on 9 February 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  11. ^ "What is this week's F1 Shakedown in Spain, and why are McLaren Mastercard running a one-off livery?". McLaren. 26 January 2026. Archived from the original on 1 February 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  12. ^ Noble, Jon; Straw, Edd (22 January 2026). "McLaren's 2026 upgrade strategy is very different to rivals'". The Race. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  13. ^ Cleeren, Filip (10 February 2026). "McLaren pinpoints "brutal" hidden design challenges of 2026 F1 rules". Motorsport.com Australia. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  14. ^ Vinel, Ben (14 March 2026). "F1 Australian GP: George Russell takes pole by 0.3s as Max Verstappen crashes out". Motorsport.com Australia. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  15. ^ Kirby, Aaron (9 March 2026). "Homeboy Piastri all torque and no action". Sport. The West Australian. Perth: Southern Cross Media Group. p. 46. ISSN 0312-6323.
  16. ^ Suttil, Josh (8 March 2026). "Mercedes 1-2 in F1 2026 opener after early Ferrari tussle". The Race. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  • Media related to the McLaren MCL40 at Wikimedia Commons
  • McLaren official website
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