McLaren is preparing the new MCL40 for the races in Miami and Canada.

      At the recent press conference, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella reassured fans. For the upcoming Miami Grand Prix and Canadian Grand Prix, engineers will refine the car so significantly that the team refers to it as a new version of the MCL40.

      Andrea Stella: "Our plan has always been to bring a completely new car, especially in terms of aerodynamics. Between Miami and Canada, we will see a completely new MCL40.

      The long break without races allowed us to work more consistently on updates. However, I expect that our competitors will bring similar updates, so it’s not a given that the competitive order on the track will change. Everything will depend on who can achieve the most significant gains over the same period.

      We still need to catch up in speed with Mercedes and partly with Ferrari, but we are pleased with the work done. We expect the MCL40 to be more competitive in Miami and then in Canada, especially considering that the car already showed a decent level in Japan.

      The start of the season resembled a rollercoaster a bit, but that makes the task more interesting. The last few months have been positive in terms of development, and we look forward to showcasing this on the track, especially in Miami, Canada, and the upcoming races."

      Another key issue was the work on the power unit in collaboration with Mercedes HPP. Andrea Stella noted that at the start of the season, there was a gap in understanding the specifics of the power unit related to the status of the customer team: "We understood this in advance and were prepared. We worked very productively with HPP, and now, in my opinion, this gap has been closed.

      Compared to Australia, we made significant progress both in interaction with HPP and in the development of modeling tools. It is impossible to foresee all possible scenarios, so it is important to think ahead and be ready for any developments to make the most of the power unit's potential."

      Speaking about the 2026 regulations, Andrea Stella said he disagrees with those who believe that the new regulations diminish the role of the driver: "One of the key characteristics of the best Formula 1 drivers has always been the ability to adapt. Drivers must understand which variables are decisive, which parameters need to be optimized, and they are the ones who find this balance better than anyone else. It’s not just about skill, but also about the ability to work with engineers to find solutions and extract maximum speed from the available opportunities.

      I don’t think the current regulations fundamentally change the picture. The best drivers will still be those who can analyze and find optimal solutions, possessing talent and team spirit.

      You still need to take corners as quickly as possible and, if possible, brake as late as possible. The best drivers will always have the opportunity to showcase their skills, and the regulatory changes, if anything, will likely help in this."

      As for the changes in regulations themselves, Stella acknowledged that stability in the rules would have been an advantage for McLaren, but the team accepts the new challenge: "In the team, we are very proud that we were able to turn the situation around under stable regulations. Since 2023, we have managed to achieve speed growth and gain an advantage.

      We would have preferred to continue working under the same regulations while being in a strong position, but we wanted to test our maturity level and ability to find new solutions in the context of regulatory 'reset.' It’s not the most comfortable situation, but we accept this challenge. It will give us a real understanding of where the team stands."