DEFENDING THE CROWN: MCLAREN ENTERS 2026 AS REIGNING CHAMPIONS WITH A TARGET ON THEIR BACK
McLaren is ready: Discover how Andrea Stella is preparing Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to defend their F1 titles in the MCL40.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella says the team is all-in on making sure both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have everything they need to get the most out of the MCL40.
They're heading into the new season as defending champs in both F1 titles, thanks to Norris finally grabbing his first drivers’ championship. That puts a big target on McLaren’s back.
Even with all that, the team hasn’t been bragging about being top dog during pre-season. Still, Stella feels good about what they’ve seen in testing.
He points out, “We’re encouraged by how reliable the MCL40 is and how much we’ve learned every time we put it on track.”
He adds, “We checked off our testing goals, nailed down the car’s main functions, and proved its reliability. We got in plenty of long runs and worked through setups, aero tweaks, and tyre data, all the way to squeezing the most from the power unit.”
“Day by day, we’ve managed to squeeze out more performance, which is great to see. Now we know exactly what this car can do as we head into this new era of Formula 1.”
The cars handle a lot differently this year, mostly because of big changes to the power units.
As the team figures out how to get every last bit out of the engine, Stella says they’ll keep fine-tuning everything to give Lando and Oscar access to every ounce of pace.
He admits, “The new rules make the driver’s job tougher than ever, and we’re focused on giving Lando and Oscar what they need to get the most out of the car.”
“They’ll have more to juggle with managing the power unit, but we’re working closely with HPP to build better tools and a deeper understanding of engine control and performance. HPP’s done a solid job so far, and we’ll keep pushing together.”
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
