Despite initial difficulties and fierce competition, McLaren has decided not to divert its attention to the 2027 car in order to concentrate on the 2026 Formula 1 season. The team’s drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, have reaffirmed their intention to fight for victories and the Constructors’ Championship title.
After a complicated championship start with a change in technical regulations, McLaren currently positions itself as the third fastest team. In the last races, the gap to Mercedes has significantly reduced from 0.862 seconds in Australia to 0.354 seconds in Japan, where Piastri briefly led the race before finishing second.
Norris has stated that, even though they did not start the season as they had hoped, they will not give up or change their focus on the 2027 car, stating: “We are not in a situation of giving up. I think this approach never works.” He recalled examples from previous seasons where the team notably improved its performances throughout the championship.
The 2023 season had begun with McLaren in fifth place in points, but they managed to recover and finish in fourth place with a total of 302 points. The following year, they won six races and secured the Constructors’ title, despite Max Verstappen being out of reach in the drivers’ standings.
Amid this context, the rival team, Alpine, adopted a radical strategy, reducing the development of their 2025 car, while Red Bull continued to push their car with the aim of winning the title, a situation that has left them currently in sixth place.
Piastri, reflecting on the situation, expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to compete for victories again. He indicated that, despite the difficulties, closing the gap to Mercedes is a viable goal. Trusting in the team’s capabilities is key to their progression this season.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
