McLaren brings more upgrades to Azerbaijan as resurgence continues

McLaren will bring another round of aerodynamic upgrades to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as it looks to build on a resurgent run of form. Lando Norris has taken three poles in the past four rounds and converted two into victories, with a third win slipping away in Madrid after a virtual safety car intervened.

Why it matters:

After a difficult opening phase to the 2026 season, McLaren has re-established itself among Formula 1's leading contenders. With the front of the field tightly packed, maintaining a steady development push is essential to keep the championship fight alive.

The details:

• Further aerodynamic changes will be run in practice before McLaren decides on the final specification for qualifying and the race.
• The rotating H-Wing, introduced at Monza, returns after being absent in Madrid.
• Chief technical officer Rob Marshall says Baku is "a circuit of extremes," combining F1's longest straight with some of its slowest corners.
• Energy management and deployment will be critical, as will tyre and brake management, with brakes arriving at Turn 1 relatively cold after the long straight.
• Marshall admits the team is still learning about the current generation of cars, having "overperformed and underperformed" against expectations at different races.

What's next:

Marshall expects Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull to remain in the mix, and predicts any of the leading four teams could prevail in Baku.

• Despite the crossover to 2027 car development, McLaren remains committed to upgrading the MCL40 while victories are within reach.
• The race takes place on Saturday rather than Sunday to avoid clashing with Azerbaijan's national Remembrance Day. FP1 begins Thursday at 12:30pm local time (6:30pm AEST).