Andrea Stella, Team Principal of McLaren during day three of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit
Photo Credit: McLaren F1 Team

Stella expects McLaren to be on backfoot at the start of F1 2026 season

As the F1 Bahrain Pre-Season Testing concluded, the season opener in Australia draws closer. Over the course of testing in Bahrain and the Barcelona Shakedown, McLaren logged an impressive 1108 laps. Now the team enters the final week of preparation, pushing until the cars are officially back on track. Stella on F1 Bahrain Testing: “Every…

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Etihad Airways will become an Official Partner of McLaren Racing in both F1 and WEC for 2026 season and beyond
Photo Credit: McLaren F1 Team

McLaren announce Etihad Airways as an official partner in F1 and WEC from 2026 season

McLaren Racing announced on Thursday that Etihad will become an official partner from the 2026 season onwards. This multi-year agreement covers not only the McLaren Mastercard F1 Team but also the McLaren United Autosports WEC Hypercar Team. The national airline of the UAE will support McLaren operationally as they compete across multiple motorsport categories worldwide….

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Neil Houldey reviews McLaren's F1 2026 Barcelona shakedown, covering early hurdles, Mercedes PU modes, and the long road from 2024.
Photo Credit: McLaren F1 Team

Houldey on McLaren’s 2026 F1 shakedown week in Barcelona

Neil Houldey spoke with Formula1.com following the F1 2026 shakedown in Barcelona for McLaren. The team’s Technical Director of Engineering provided several insights on their week at the track. The three days in Barcelona marked a significant milestone in the car project that has been in development since 2024. Houldey on initial testing and operational…

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McLaren driver Oscar Piastri reflects on F1 Barcelona Shakedown after day one in the MCL40
Photo Credit: McLaren F1 Team | X

Piastri reflects on the first day on track with McLaren at 2026 F1 Barcelona shakedown

Oscar Piastri reflected on his first day on track at the 2026 F1 Barcelona shakedown. The Australian’s first day of running did not go completely smoothly, as Piastri admits a fuel system issue cut the day short. Still, the McLaren driver remains excited to go again tomorrow and to work hard to ensure everything goes…

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Lando Norris of McLaren Mercedes on track at the 2026 F1 Barcelona shakedown
Photo Credit: McLaren F1 Team

Lando Norris feels “surreal” carrying the number 1 on his McLaren at 2026 F1 Barcelona shakedown

2025 F1 world champion, Lando Norris, took over the honour from Max Verstappen to drive with the car boasting the number 1 at Barcelona shakedown. The McLaren driver with number one, hit the track at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Wednesday, with Norris completing 77 laps across a full systems shakedown. Norris admitted it still…

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Chief designer Rob Marshall discusses the McLaren MCL40, their run on Day 3, and their programme for the remainder of the 2026 F1 shakedown in Barcelona
Photo Credit: McLaren F1 Team

Rob Marshall “quite happy” with McLaren F1’s solid 2026 debut on Day 3 of Barcelona shakedown

Chief designer Rob Marshall shared his thoughts on McLaren hitting the track for the first time with their 2026 car, how innovative the MCL40 is, and their run plan for the remainder of the F1 shakedown as the third day of the private event in Barcelona came to a close. McLaren initially dedicated their time…

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While McLaren have unveiled the renders of the MCL40 in a testing livery, Red Bull have uncloaked their real 2026 F1 car ahead of Barcelona shakedown
Photo Credit: Red Bull Content Pool

McLaren and Red Bull reveal renders of their 2026 F1 cars as pre-season shakedown commences in Barcelona

While McLaren have unveiled the renders of the MCL40 in a testing livery, Red Bull have published the first images of their real 2026 F1 car ahead of the behind-closed-doors Barcelona shakedown. As F1 undergoes a major regulations reset in 2026, ten teams, apart from Williams, are utilising a shakedown event prior to the two…

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McLaren F1 have confimed that Leonardo Fornaroli and Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward will share reserve driver duties in 2026.
Photo Credit: McLaren F1 Team

Fornaroli and O’Ward to share reserve driver duties at McLaren for 2026 F1 season

Defending F1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ World Champions McLaren have confirmed that 2025 F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli and Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward will share reserve driver duties for the 2026 season. Fornaroli and O’Ward form a strong reserve driver line-up at McLaren F1 Leonardo Fornaroli has had a magnificent couple of years. The Italian…

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Head of Strategy at Red Bull Racing for many years, Will Courtenay has joined the McLaren F1 Team as Sporting Director.
Photo Credit: Red Bull Content Pool

Former Red Bull Head of Strategy Will Courtenay begins Sporting Director role at McLaren F1

Head of Strategy at Red Bull Racing for many years, Will Courtenay has joined the McLaren F1 Team as Sporting Director. While it was announced in September 2024, the engineer only starts at the Woking-based team now. Starting at Jaguar before the car manufacturer left the sport at the end of 2004, the British engineer…

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