McLaren Hungary Upgrades Tackle Season-Long Balance Weakness

McLaren's revised underbody in Hungary appears to have tamed the MCL40's chronic balance issues, helping Lando Norris secure pole by just 0.012 seconds. While the Hungaroring naturally suits the car's short wheelbase, the real test of whether Woking has cured its season-long instability will come at high-speed circuits like Monza.

Why it matters:

From the outset of the 2026 season, McLaren traded stability for agility. The team adopted the shortest wheelbase on the grid not to chase a specific handling trait, but as a fix for the conflicting demands of the 768 kg minimum weight and the larger batteries. That choice delivered manoeuvrability, yet it left the MCL40 hypersensitive to shifts in front-to-rear balance and struggling with inconsistent load distribution. Fixing this is essential if McLaren is to transform its car from a narrow specialist into a genuine all-rounder.

The details:

• Underbody revision: The latest floor increases airflow extraction at the base of the diffuser, which McLaren believes will help maintain a more stable aero balance across different track types.
• Wheelbase compromise: The extremely short wheelbase was conceived primarily to save weight, but it made the car unstable and overly reactive to balance changes between the axles.
• Hungarian setup: Softer suspension and slightly higher ride heights were used to ride the Hungaroring's curbs. Ride height remains a critical variable between slow and fast circuits.
• "Macarena" wing: McLaren also ran its new low-drag wing in Hungary, a package earmarked for Monza where gains are expected to be magnified on fast straights.

What's next:

Hungary provided encouraging evidence, but definitive answers will only emerge at high-speed venues like Monza. There, McLaren will pair the revised underbody with the Macarena wing to see if the MCL40 can finally generate the downforce and stability required to fight at the sharp end on every type of circuit. If the upgrades hold up under those conditions, Woking's season could take on a very different complexion.