McLaren eyes low-speed corner gains after breakthrough Hungary win

McLaren is chasing gains in low-speed corners after its recent upgrade package delivered reigning champion Lando Norris a breakthrough victory in Hungary, though team principal Andrea Stella insists the car still has clear weaknesses to address. The Woking squad claimed its first win of the 2026 campaign at the Hungaroring last month when Norris triumphed, while early race leader Oscar Piastri retired with a technical issue.

Why it matters:

The Hungary win proved McLaren has made genuine progress, but Stella knows championship bids cannot afford blind spots. While the team now matches Ferrari in certain performance areas, lingering deficits in slow-corner traction and rotation threaten to undermine its title defense as rivals continue developing their cars through the second half of the season.

The details:

• Stella told media that McLaren is now "comparable to Ferrari" in some sections following the Hungary upgrade, but singled out low-speed performance as a priority area needing further gains.
• The straight-line boost seen in Hungary was partly credited to the Mercedes HPP power unit, highlighting the benefits of the engine partnership on flat-out sections.
• The Hungary package marked only the first phase of a broader multi-round development plan, with Stella confirming additional parts will arrive at upcoming races.
• Piastri's retirement from the lead served as a reminder that execution remains just as critical as raw pace in McLaren's campaign.

What's next:

With more upgrades scheduled across the next few rounds, McLaren aims to eliminate its low-speed deficit before the championship fight reaches its decisive phase. If the Woking team can combine its improved Mercedes-powered straight-line speed with better mechanical grip in slow corners, it could position itself as a consistent threat to Ferrari and Red Bull through the closing stages of 2026.