Ferrari has been one of the teams closest to challenging Mercedes in the opening rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship. McLaren, by contrast, has gone from being the dominant force of last season to struggling to fight at the front.

Rob Marshall, McLaren's Chief Designer, addressed the team's plans during a press conference, outlining how Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri's squad intends to claw back ground on Ferrari and Mercedes.

"Looking ahead, Ferrari's rear wing came as a surprise. Everyone has been debating whether it was legal — and it is. They also did some interesting things with the exhaust exit. Some of it is constrained by the car's architecture or the engine. Some of it comes down to the wind tunnel or CFD work, while other elements remain at the theoretical study stage."

"In Formula 1, they say you can't copy — but that's not always true. Think about the double diffuser: it worked on one car, everyone copied it, and it worked on the others too. Copying something is one thing; understanding what a team is actually trying to achieve is another. That's the real secret. You can copy something, but you don't have their understanding. If you study it properly, you can develop the same know-how — but faster, because they've given you the inspiration."

"Every car has something that makes you think: that's completely different from anything we had imagined. Audi's sidepods are very interesting — they've gone with a solution that nobody else has. Aston Martin has a very interesting suspension geometry, especially at the rear, and the front is also quite particular — perhaps inspired by something we did last year," he acknowledged.

Here are the updated Constructors' Championship standings following the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix. Mercedes remain in first place after Kimi Antonelli's victory at Suzuka, with Ferrari close behind in second. McLaren and Haas hold third and fourth respectively.

Alpine, thanks to Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, sit fifth. Red Bull, in the midst of a performance crisis, have just 16 points and are level with the French outfit after the race in Japan.

Racing Bulls, with youngsters Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, are seventh ahead of Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto and Williams' Carlos Sainz. Cadillac with Sergio Pérez sit above Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso.

Mercedes – 135 points

Ferrari – 90 points

McLaren – 46 points

Haas – 18 points

Alpine – 16 points

Red Bull – 16 points

Racing Bulls – 14 points

Audi – 2 points

Williams – 2 points

Cadillac – 0 points

Aston Martin – 0 points