2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

[AR3-GP]

From 2027, the homologation of gearboxes will also be eliminated, to ensure greater development freedom for manufacturers.

https://x.com/RosarioGiuliana/status/21 ... 4488214877

track specific gear ratios will be back.

Another odd decision by the rule makers.

I guess we should expect EVERY previous rule that wasn’t implemented under Liberty media to be changed in some shape or form.
I look forward to seeing the all wheel driven 8 wheelers.

For the manufacturers that develop their own gearboxes, it's very good. For the gearbox customers (alpine, Haas, Williams, Cadillac), it's very bad.

For Mclaren, it's somewhere in the middle because of how PU and gearbox are integrated.

[CjC]

https://x.com/RosarioGiuliana/status/21 ... 4488214877

track specific gear ratios will be back.

Another odd decision by the rule makers.

I guess we should expect EVERY previous rule that wasn’t implemented under Liberty media to be changed in some shape or form.
I look forward to seeing the all wheel driven 8 wheelers.

For the manufacturers that develop their own gearboxes, it's very good. For the gearbox customers (alpine, Haas, Williams, Cadillac), it's very bad.

I know but there’s no need for it.
Homologated boxes have been fine- they where introduced to keep costs down, no?
We are now in a cost cap era- let’s open up gearbox development.

[AR3-GP]

I know but there’s no need for it.
Homologated boxes have been fine- they where introduced to keep costs down, no?
We are now in a cost cap era- let’s open up gearbox development.

but that does make sense. Personally I think it's going to create two problems.

1) Team like Mclaren is affected to lesser extent, but PU power band developed around anticipated track specific ratios. It's just another thing that the factory team understands intent much earlier than the customers who can make their own gearboxes, and then those who buy them are shut out entirely from this design freedom.

2) This track specific suiting of the homologated gearboxes may have led to different race winners this season. With the best team also being able to run the best ratios at every track, there is inevitably less variability in race winners. We see that effect to some extent already with the lack of aero compromises required between low and high downforce tracks because of active aero. The top team can increasingly have the optimum configuration to exploit their cars at every circuit.

[karana]

Gear ratios don't fall under the homologation. From the 2026 regulations:

C9.4: The design of the Driveline Components (with the exception of the gear ratios, for which the
provisions of Article C9.6.2 apply), Gear−Change Components and Auxiliary Components must be
homologated by each gearbox supplier before the start of the season following the season when
they first supplied a Gearbox under these Regulations. The design must not be modified, except in
exceptional circumstances, in subsequent seasons.

The currently available 2027 regulations allow one single update during "this" four-year period.

The gear ratios will likely still be fixed during the season.

[AR3-GP]

Gear ratios don't fall under the homologation. From the 2026 regulations:

C9.4: The design of the Driveline Components (with the exception of the gear ratios, for which the
provisions of Article C9.6.2 apply), Gear−Change Components and Auxiliary Components must be
homologated by each gearbox supplier before the start of the season following the season when
they first supplied a Gearbox under these Regulations. The design must not be modified, except in
exceptional circumstances, in subsequent seasons.

The currently available 2027 regulations allow one single update during "this" four-year period.

The gear ratios will likely still be fixed during the season.

The ratios did fall under homologation. It is in C9.6.2 (2026).

Each F1 Team must nominate the forward gear ratios (calculated from engine crankshaft to drive
shafts) to be employed within their Gearbox. These nominations must be declared to the FIA
technical delegate at or before the first Competition of the Championship.
During 2026 only, the nominated set of forward gear ratios may be changed once during the
Championship Season and may involve changes to the gear ratio pairs defined in Article C9.6.3 and
to the final drive. The F1 Team may revert to the original specification but must remain with this
specification for the remainder of the Championship.
For the 2027 Championship Season and onwards, changes to the forward gear ratios under the
provisions of this Article may involve changes to either the gear ratio pairs defined in Article C9.6.3,
or to the final drive, but not both at the same time.

The original 2026 regs looked like this:
2026 - 1 in-season change
2027 - no in-season ratio change allowed


The 2027 regs are like this
2027 - 1 in-season ratio change (and 1 reversion allowed)
2028 - 1 in-season ratio change (and 1 reversion allowed)

So in theory the team can introduce 1 gearbox for a stretch of races in the middle of the season, and a 2nd gearbox for the first part and the last part of the season.

[CjC]

Ok. I’ve sounded off a bit too quick.
It’s just gear box design that’s not homologated.
Ratios technically are- as you have just explained.
Not sure why, but I initially thought that teams could tailor make gear boxes and ratios as per the circuit requirement, ie. 15+ sets of ratios and boxes- how that was supposed to work win the gearbox allocation was stupid on my part, my head must have been fried before from the days grind.

Wouldn’t surprise me if McLaren have proposed this change or at least endorse it.
Perhaps the reason why they haven’t changed ratios this season with their ‘joker’ is because they wanted to change the gearbox design to go along side new ratios. Just a thought.

[mwillems]

Where is the cost associated with the gearbox ratio? The gearbox is no longer a sealed unit in the same way or usage tracked in the same way, and I think the regulations are built specifically to allow gear ratio changes in tbe existing units if they want to.

I'm struggling to see cost cap being a reason. There have been 3 confirmed swaps and 2 gearbox failures this year.

And as far as I'm aware, only parts raced count to the cap.

In any case, if they have new gearboxes tbey can still just swap out the ratios.

It's not cost related. They may yet change the ratios. Tbe recent run of races though have favoured the shorter ratios.

Perhaps that is a factor.

Changing things requires people, new designs, and more paperwork in many departments. It takes people off of other projects like next year. As you said, Mclaren was already facing gremlins with the current gearbox. So it's ultimately a still a resource issue. Teams don't plan to make in-season ratio changes.

New designs to make the gears a bit longer? You think the gearbox has no tokerance for longer gears?

How much of the gearbox needs replacing for this?

Does it really take as much resource as you suggest?

[Darth-Piekus]

This weekend the F1 program will be different. Thursday will be the two practises, Friday for Practise 3 and Qualifying, race on Saturday as Sunday is some kind of special day for Azerbaijan.

[Balalu]

New logo:

https://imgur.com/a/mclaren-new-logo-wi ... al-1he0eRD

It's subtle, but not insignificant.

[SilviuAgo]

Had some time missing on the forum, also missed the live Madrid race (saw it only in the evening on F1TV and was very sorry for Lando's missed opportunity), but all this because I had the chance to be in Portimão for the MCL-HY testing session. The funny thing was that no one was informed about who would do the test. We were sure Mikkel would do the whole program, so it was incredible to get feedback directly from Lando. What I can say is that there is still a lot of work to do, but he is so positive and encouraging. Even though the time until June '26 is short, I am sure McLaren will do their absolute best to have an honorable presence at Le Mans. And if Lando is one of the drivers, it will be another dream come true for us.


a pic from the night test

And yes, McLaren is going back to its roots and with a new logo. McLaren's new logo is inspired by the sign from Bruce McLaren's family garage in Auckland, where he grew up above the workshop after his dad bought it in 1936.
McLaren has now brought that piece of his history back into the brand as a nod to where it all began. Hope to celebrate its debut with a win in Baku! Wish them all the best!

[SilviuAgo]

What's the menu for Baku? New Engine and the last huge upgrade package?

McLaren will bring a new version of its “Macarena” H-wing to Baku, designed for a slightly higher-downforce range. The team could still switch back to its flatter Monza-spec wing because of Baku’s massive straight.

A new floor is also coming, aimed at improving efficiency and helping the car in slower corners.

[AR3-GP]

New designs to make the gears a bit longer? You think the gearbox has no tokerance for longer gears?

How much of the gearbox needs replacing for this?

Does it really take as much resource as you suggest?

I don't know Mclaren specifics, but it seems like they have sub-optimal ratios and they didn't change them this year despite having an opportunity to do so. Would it be safe to assume that it is a resource issue?

[mwillems]

New designs to make the gears a bit longer? You think the gearbox has no tokerance for longer gears?

How much of the gearbox needs replacing for this?

Does it really take as much resource as you suggest?

I don't know Mclaren specifics, but it seems like they have sub-optimal ratios and they didn't change them this year despite having an opportunity to do so. Would it be safe to assume that it is a resource issue?

That's my point, I don't see how it is resource. It's not aero, it's adding more teeth to gears of a non sealed unit. Units not run dont count to the cost cap and we've gone through several gearbox already.

As I said before, the gearbox and wheelbase suit the twistier circuits. The team may have chosen not to change gears because loss of competitiveness on one track is offset by increasing the chance of wins elsewhere.

[AR3-GP]

That's my point, I don't see how it is resource. It's not aero, it's adding more teeth to gears of a non sealed unit.

They would have to design them, validate reliability (different gears sling the oil differently, and different harmonics/vibrations), develop deployment maps around the new ratios and so on. It's a big job, imo. They have already struggled with fully exploiting the PU with the current ratios and they have gearbox gremlins with the current box.

[FittingMechanics]

Why is this debate ongoing? McLaren said the difference is not big (pace wise) and decided against doing it.