McLaren are rolling out a major aerodynamic overhaul at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this September, hoping to finally crack the speed and efficiency issues that have plagued the MCL40 all season. Lando Norris just bagged his first win of 2026 at Hungary, but that was more about the car's strength in tight corners than raw pace. The reality is McLaren's been struggling to keep up with Mercedes and Ferrari on faster circuits, so they're going all-in with a comprehensive upgrade package targeting their weaker areas.

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The problem started right at the beginning of the year. McLaren gambled on a shorter wheelbase than any rival, which caused immediate downforce struggles and setup headaches. Even though recent front wing, floor edge, bargeboards, engine cover, rear brake duct and floor upgrades helped at the Hungaroring, the fundamental speed weakness on high-speed tracks remains. Oscar Piastri actually led at Hungary before a gearbox failure ended his race, showing the car's potential but also its fragility.

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The Azerbaijan upgrade is just the start. McLaren are also introducing their new Macarena rear wing at Monza for even more firepower after the summer break. The team reckons their basic concept is sound, but they've pinpointed top speed and efficiency on circuits like Monza and Baku as the key 'limitations' holding them back. If they nail these fixes, Norris could properly challenge for the title. He's currently fifth on 128 points, way behind leaders like Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton, but upgrades could change that picture fast.

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Norris and Piastri have shown flashes of real pace when conditions suit the car, but consistency has been the issue. Piastri won in Japan early on and grabbed a podium at Miami, yet he's struggled adapting to the MCL40's quirks ever since. Both drivers need this upgrade package to deliver if McLaren want to claw back into the championship fight. With 220 points already in the team's pot, they're sitting third in the constructors' standings and hungry to prove they've got the pace to challenge Mercedes and Ferrari for real.

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