McLaren is bringing a significant aerodynamic package to the Hungarian Grand Prix while testing an experimental rear wing as part of its ongoing 2026 Formula 1 development program.

The McLaren MCL40 upgrades will make their competitive debut at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The team hopes the new package will improve the car’s performance and reduce the gap to its main Formula 1 rivals.

In addition, McLaren will evaluate an experimental inverted rear wing during Friday’s practice sessions. Both developments represent an important step in the team’s long-term strategy for the remainder of the 2026 season.

McLaren introduces a major aerodynamic upgrade package for the MCL40 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

New Aerodynamic Package Focuses on Performance

The latest McLaren MCL40 upgrades include a redesigned floor and several additional aerodynamic components.

According to the team, these changes are designed to improve both aerodynamic efficiency and overall downforce. As a result, engineers expect the package to deliver better performance across different types of circuits.

Furthermore, McLaren plans to use the practice sessions to gather valuable data before introducing additional upgrades later this season.

The team believes continuous development will be essential as the fight at the front of the Formula 1 grid becomes increasingly competitive.

The redesigned floor is one of the key elements of McLaren’s latest development package.

Experimental Rear Wing Will Be Evaluated

Alongside the new aerodynamic package, McLaren will also test its innovative inverted rear wing concept.

The component was originally expected to appear earlier this season. However, additional development work delayed its introduction after engineers identified areas that required further refinement.

For now, the rear wing will only be evaluated during the opening practice session. It is not expected to be used during qualifying or the race.

If testing produces positive results, McLaren could introduce the new design later this season at circuits where reducing aerodynamic drag offers a greater competitive advantage.

McLaren will collect performance data from its experimental rear wing during Friday practice.

McLaren Targets Stronger Results During the Second Half of the Season

The McLaren MCL40 upgrades arrive at a crucial stage of the championship.

Although the team has introduced several improvements throughout the season, it believes this latest package represents one of its biggest development steps so far. Therefore, the information collected in Hungary will play an important role in shaping future upgrades.

Moreover, McLaren has already confirmed that additional development packages are scheduled after the summer break. Those updates are expected to further improve the MCL40 as the championship enters its final phase.

Overall, the McLaren MCL40 upgrades demonstrate the team’s commitment to continuous development. If the new package performs as expected, McLaren could take an important step forward in its battle with Formula 1’s leading teams during the remainder of the 2026 campaign.

McLaren says Lando Norris delivered one of his strongest performances of the season at Spa and believes a podium finish was within reach without his grid penalty.

The Lando Norris Spa pace impressed McLaren throughout the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, with Team Principal Andrea Stella believing the British driver had enough speed to fight for second place. Despite starting deep in the field because of a 10-place grid penalty, Norris recovered to finish seventh after producing one of his most competitive race performances of the season.

The result may not reflect his true pace, but McLaren left Spa convinced that both Norris and the MCL40 had the speed to challenge at the front.

Lando Norris impressed McLaren with his race pace at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Lando Norris Spa Pace Surprised McLaren

Norris received a 10-place grid penalty after Mercedes installed a new battery in his power unit to address earlier reliability concerns. Even so, he showed excellent speed during qualifying by setting the third-fastest lap before the penalty was applied.

In the race, Norris adopted an alternative strategy by starting on hard tires before switching to mediums in the closing stages. His pace remained consistently strong, allowing him to recover several positions despite beginning well outside the front runners.

According to Andrea Stella, Norris demonstrated that he had the speed to compete for the podium throughout the race.

McLaren believes Norris had the speed to fight for a podium at Spa.

Strategy and Slow Pit Stop Hurt Norris’ Chances

McLaren’s race strategy also played an important role in Norris’ final result. During a Virtual Safety Car period, the team chose to keep him on track instead of taking advantage of a reduced-time pit stop.

The decision was based on two factors. First, McLaren believed Norris could extend his opening stint long enough to maximize tire performance. Second, the team wanted to remain flexible in case a full Safety Car appeared later in the race.

Unfortunately, a 7.8-second pit stop cost Norris valuable track position and effectively ended any realistic chance of reaching the podium.

A slow pit stop and race strategy limited Norris’ final result at Spa.

McLaren Leaves Belgium Confident About the MCL40

Although Norris finished only seventh, McLaren viewed the Belgian Grand Prix as an encouraging weekend. The team believes the MCL40 showed competitive pace in both qualifying and race conditions, offering positive signs for the upcoming races.

With stronger reliability and cleaner race execution, McLaren is confident Norris can convert this level of performance into podium finishes during the remainder of the Formula 1 season. The team leaves Spa disappointed by the final result but optimistic that its pace is capable of challenging the frontrunners in the races ahead.

After a disappointing first half of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Aston Martin and Honda are optimistic that a major car upgrade in Hungary will mark a turning point.

The Aston Martin Hungary update could become a defining moment in the team’s 2026 Formula 1 campaign. After enduring one of its most challenging starts in recent years, Aston Martin is preparing to introduce the highly anticipated AMR26 B, a package the team hopes will reverse its fortunes beginning with the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Following a difficult Belgian Grand Prix, where the AMR26 struggled for pace throughout the weekend, both Aston Martin and Honda believe the lessons learned over the past several months have laid the foundation for a stronger second half of the season.

Aston Martin is preparing to introduce the AMR26 B at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Aston Martin Praises the Team’s Resilience

According to Trackside Team Principal Mike Krack, the first six months of the season have tested every department within Aston Martin. Despite the disappointing results, he praised the professionalism, resilience and commitment shown by the entire organization.

Krack reserved special recognition for the team’s drivers, acknowledging that they have faced the greatest pressure while continuing to work closely with engineers in the search for solutions. He also emphasized that Aston Martin has remained transparent about its struggles while maintaining focus on long-term progress.

Mike Krack says Aston Martin has remained united during a difficult season.

Honda Says the Partnership Has Grown Stronger

Honda Formula 1 project leader Shintaro Orihara admitted the opening months of the partnership have been challenging, particularly after a difficult winter testing program and several demanding race weekends.

However, he believes those setbacks have strengthened the collaboration between Honda and Aston Martin. According to Orihara, both organizations have improved communication, expanded their technical cooperation and gained valuable knowledge about energy management under the new Formula 1 regulations.

The Japanese manufacturer expects those lessons to play an important role as development continues throughout the season.

Honda believes the challenges of 2026 have strengthened its collaboration with Aston Martin.

Hungary Could Mark a New Beginning for Aston Martin

The arrival of the AMR26 B gives Aston Martin renewed optimism ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Team members hope the extensive upgrade package will address the performance issues that have limited the car since the beginning of the year and allow the team to fight consistently further up the grid.

Although expectations remain measured, both Aston Martin and Honda believe their improved collaboration, combined with the new technical package, offers their best opportunity yet to change the trajectory of the 2026 Formula 1 season.