The British team introduced a significant package in Azerbaijan that required repairs after the first day, although the circuit did not favor the MCL40 the internal data confirms that the improvements worked as planned.
McLaren left the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with mixed feelings: the Woking team had pinned high hopes on the upgrade package it introduced in Baku, but the weekend did not go as planned. The results on track were discreet with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri far from the front positions and the race ended prematurely for the Briton after the multiple crash on the first lap, however, beyond what the times reflected in McLaren there are reasons for optimism.
Introducing the package wasn't simple: on the first day of practice, the team found problems with the MCL40's floor, forcing the mechanics to work against the clock to apply a provisional solution with zip ties. Norris and Piastri lost valuable time on track, and the gap to the leaders was around 1.5 seconds (a deficit that, on paper, was discouraging, but the team attributed it to the circumstances and the circuit's characteristics).
The Baku layout is, by nature, an uncomfortable challenge for the McLaren: The long Caspian straight punishes the short acceleration development of the MCL40, and the slow and narrow corners do not exploit the car's main strength, which is its performance in fast and high-downforce corners. That is why the Woking engineers knew the Azerbaijani weekend would not be a good thermometer for the true impact of the improvements.
Despite the difficulties, the internal sensations are positive. Rob Marshall, technical director and chief designer of McLaren, explained that the car seems to be doing what they want it to do and that the aerodynamic map seems quite satisfactory, so... What is the problem? According to Marshall, it is a matter of time and fine-tuning; in his own words: "You put your package on, and you need to learn to dial it in. I don't think we are there yet," he admitted. The Briton said he was confident that with more sessions and data, the team could extract the full potential of the new pieces.
The Baku Grand Prix update included modifications to the sidepods, engine cover, floor, diffuser, and rear suspension; without a doubt, it was an ambitious package that, according to early evaluations, has met expectations in terms of correlation between the wind tunnel and the track. That is precisely the most encouraging sign for McLaren: confirmation that its development tools work and that the improvements are going in the right direction.
The team now faces the season's final triple-header, with its sights set on 2027: The improvements introduced in Baku aim not only to boost immediate performance but also to lay the foundation for next year's car. Norris and Piastri need a competitive car to fight for victories regularly, and McLaren believes the pieces debuted in Azerbaijan are the first step in an evolution that will help them return to the elite.
The weekend in Baku was complicated, but the signs coming from the factory are hopeful.
