Team Preview: McLaren - All You Need to Know About the Team Ahead of the 2026 F1 Season
After a remarkable resurgence in 2024, McLaren emerged as a formidable force in the 2025 season, securing their second consecutive Teams' Championship with six rounds to spare and their first Drivers' Championship in 17 years, thanks to Lando Norris. Can they maintain this momentum in 2026? Here's an in-depth look at the team's prospects for the upcoming season...
Drivers for 2026
Lando Norris (#1): 1 World Championship, 11 Grand Prix wins, 44 podiums, 1430 points, 152 starts
Oscar Piastri (#81): 9 Grand Prix wins, 26 podiums, 799 points, 70 starts
McLaren will keep its driver lineup unchanged in 2026, with a significant twist: one of them will enter the season as a reigning World Champion for the first time.
That's Lando Norris, who dethroned Max Verstappen, winning the championship by just two points. Consequently, Norris will wear the number 1 on his car, a change from his previous number 4.
Oscar Piastri, on the other side of the garage, ended 2025 in third place, despite leading for much of the season. The Australian demonstrated early dominance, winning seven Grand Prix victories in the first 15 rounds.
However, the second half of the season proved challenging, with Norris and Verstappen surpassing him in the standings. Piastri bounced back in the final two races, aiming to strengthen his performance.
McLaren's Performance in 2025
McLaren's promise from 2024 materialized in 2025, allowing them to quickly build a substantial lead in the Teams' Championship.
Before the summer break, the Woking-based team secured 11 victories from 14 rounds, with Piastri contributing six of those wins, leading the Drivers' Standings. However, the resurgence of Verstappen and Red Bull slightly impacted their momentum in the second half.
This period was particularly challenging for Piastri, who finished off the podium for six consecutive rounds, though he helped McLaren secure the Teams' title in Singapore. Norris, on the other hand, mounted a comeback, winning back-to-back races in Mexico and Sao Paulo, retaking the championship lead in Mexico.
Despite both drivers remaining in title contention, McLaren faced difficulties in the final rounds, including a double disqualification in Las Vegas and a missed victory in Qatar due to a strategy error. Verstappen continued his winning streak, bringing himself back into the championship race in Abu Dhabi. Norris ultimately clinched the maiden title, while Piastri settled for third, 13 points behind his teammate.
History
As the second-oldest team in Formula 1, with the most race starts behind only Ferrari, McLaren boasts an illustrious history. Founded in 1963, Bruce McLaren led the team to its debut championship win at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix.
Following McLaren's tragic death in a testing crash at Goodwood in 1970, the team continued racing in his honor, achieving great success. Emerson Fittipaldi clinched the team's maiden Drivers' Championship in 1974, the same year they won the Teams' Championship for the first time. The 1980s and 1990s brought further titles, with McLaren dominating in 1988, winning 15 out of 16 races.
However, this era also witnessed tensions between team mates Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.
With both titles in 2025, McLaren has now accumulated 10 Teams' Championships and 13 Drivers' crowns, marking their most successful period since 1998.
Greatest Achievement
McLaren's remarkable achievements make it challenging to select just one. Their recovery from the mid-2010s struggles is impressive, having secured both titles in 2025.
However, the legendary 1988 campaign stands out, with the A-list driver lineup and Honda-powered MP4/4 leading to unprecedented success. The team's 93.8% win percentage remains one of the highest in a single season.
Key Goal for 2026
McLaren's primary objective in 2026 is to sustain their championship-winning form from the previous season.
However, the introduction of new technical regulations adds a challenge, requiring them to navigate the rules reset while maintaining their competitive edge. The team cannot rest on its laurels and must be prepared to fend off rivals.
To achieve this, McLaren will focus on refining its strategy, learning from the occasional errors in the 2025 campaign. Team Principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown emphasize that the team's 'papaya rules' will remain, ensuring fair treatment of both drivers.
Despite external criticism of the methodology, Brown acknowledges the team will learn from its mistakes, aiming to strengthen their title defense and maintain a harmonious relationship between Norris and Piastri.
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