2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

[bauc]

LOL people with doom and gloom from day 1, I guess people like me who follow F1 for 30 years now are in minority here, as we seen things, we went trough a lot with this team, so I guess we know better?

Have a little bit of faith armchair critics

[FittingMechanics]

I feel so deflated,I was looking forward for today,to see the car.....then nothing!!!
This happens when money talks!!!
Efing FIA!!!

What is the problem? There will be a highlights video from Formula 1, probably in a couple of hours. There are some decent photos already out. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/arti ... b0N45gbOqS

Btw I know it's just testing but I feel that the lap time on their first run of the car is quite good. Decent mileage as well although McLaren usually doesn't push mileage that high (in previous years). I guess that's the advantage of being a customer team, engine work can be done by the works team.

[SilviuAgo]

source: @mclarenbrasil

If he is happy, I am happy

[FittingMechanics]

Interesting that they used inters in some of the running. Probably for flowviz you don't need real pace.

[CjC]

Now we’ve seen more of the car I feel the team has done us proud.

Will it be quickest? No idea.

However, there are certainly lots of points of interest on the car and I’m fascinated to see who’s got it right for now and who hasn’t. At the end of day this season will just be a development war.

[SilviuAgo]

Interesting that they used inters in some of the running. Probably for flowviz you don't need real pace.

According to sources in Barcelona, McLaren used today inters and mediums. I know is only testing, but relating to time table, on Medium tires was also the time of 1:18:307 (for P3 today) while Mercedes times came on Soft compound (1:17:362 for Kimi). Not bad for MCL40.







Mercedes also used Hard's today.

[Macklaren]

Interesting that Lando says this..."It's pretty different. It's a step slower in terms of cornering speeds" when Max is saying the car has more downforce than anything he's ever driven. Hmmmmmmmm

[Xyz22]

Interesting that Lando says this..."It's pretty different. It's a step slower in terms of cornering speeds" when Max is saying the car has more downforce than anything he's ever driven. Hmmmmmmmm

There is no way the 2026 RB has more DWF than the 2021 or 2025 RB. It's literally impossible.

[Emag]

Interesting that Lando says this..."It's pretty different. It's a step slower in terms of cornering speeds" when Max is saying the car has more downforce than anything he's ever driven. Hmmmmmmmm

Fake quote I think. These cars aren't supposed to have more downforce than previous gen. If they did, factoring in the smaller weight + higher top speeds, they would be flying and not doing these 1:18s and 1:17s like they are doing now.

If RedBull made a car that has more downforce than anything Max has ever driven then the rest better pack it up

[f1isgood]

Car looks very innovative on the front wing. The suspension also looks quite interesting on the front. McLaren carrying over their expertise from the last regulation

[Macklaren]

Interesting that Lando says this..."It's pretty different. It's a step slower in terms of cornering speeds" when Max is saying the car has more downforce than anything he's ever driven. Hmmmmmmmm

There is no way the 2026 RB has more DWF than the 2021 or 2025 RB. It's literally impossible.

Agreed. Maybe Max just meant electric power / torque out of the corners which was mistranslated by Dutch media

[mwillems]

Car looks very innovative on the front wing. LThe suspension also looks quite interesting on the front. McLaren carrying over their expertise from the last regulation

One thing we do know was the teams intent to focus on the platform last year as they intended to carry it over.

Lando is grinning a lot but the car hasnt been run in anger yet. I'd imagine the feel of the car is refined yet again but I am curious as to how the car will behave in heavy braking zones that require some trail braking, corners with bumps, kerbs etc

With a much reduced amount of downforce from the floor, will we gain some setup flexibility to mitigate last years problem issues?

I feel like the platform might not offer too many flaws but provide a super stable base for Aero and retain strong tyre management.

Fingers crossed.

[rayden]

Apparently it does have a diffuser hole?

[avantman]

Is McLaren the car with the shortest wheelbase of all this year? It looks tiny and nimble again.

[Darth-Piekus]

It's a real pity that we have no way of seeing this test. Any reason why it was decided to be behind closed doors?