McLaren Drivers Face Early Season Challenges Amid Positive Outlook
Andrea Stella, the principal of McLaren, acknowledged the tough start to the season for drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, but expressed confidence in their ability to recover from early setbacks in 2026. The two-time Constructors’ Championship winner has struggled, with Norris finishing fifth in the opening Australian Grand Prix—his only points from the first round of four races.
In his home race, Piastri did not compete due to a crash, and both McLaren cars failed to start at the following event in China due to electrical malfunctions. As a result, McLaren currently trails the early leaders, Mercedes and Ferrari, by a substantial margin. In the drivers’ standings, Norris holds sixth place with 15 points, while Piastri ranks twelfth, having earned just three points from the Shanghai Sprint.
When discussing driver management, Stella remarked on the difficulty of the current situation. He noted that it might be particularly challenging for Piastri, given his inability to race at the start of the 2026 campaign. Despite these hurdles, both drivers remain optimistic, as conveyed in their conversations with Stella after the races.
“Reflecting on our journey since 2023, McLaren has developed a strong ‘winner’s mindset’ within the team, maintaining positive momentum even in challenging circumstances,” Stella explained. He emphasized the importance of controlling what can be controlled and learning from the situations they cannot influence.
Stella also drew connections between past hardships and present challenges. He recalled the strategic missteps that hindered the team in previous seasons, particularly in Qatar and Las Vegas. “Those experiences are what shape champions,” he asserted, emphasizing the need for endurance and resilience.
Stella recognized that the significant consequence of the double DNS (Did Not Start) in Shanghai was the loss of critical World Championship points. As the defending champions, McLaren now finds itself 80 points behind the leaders, Mercedes. Both McLaren and Red Bull are struggling to keep pace with Mercedes and Ferrari in the early races of the season. Although improvements can be made with the Mercedes engine, substantial upgrades are still needed on the MCL40 car.
David Croft, a commentator for Sky Sports F1, pointed out that the upcoming Miami Grand Prix could be pivotal for McLaren’s performance. “It’s worrying to face separate issues that could bring down the car,” Croft remarked, highlighting the fragility of current F1 cars. He underlined the need for reliability, as the trend of multiple cars failing to start in Shanghai is undesirable for the sport.
As the season progresses, McLaren is set to unveil significant updates for the Miami Grand Prix, which could address pressing issues and allow them to compete more fiercely against Mercedes. “It’s crucial for Ferrari and Mercedes to capitalize now, while McLaren and Red Bull are still finding their footing,” Croft cautioned.
The next race on the F1 calendar is the highly anticipated Japanese Grand Prix at the iconic Suzuka Circuit, scheduled for March 27-29. Fans can catch all the live coverage on Sky Sports F1.
