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F1·ANALYSIS·October 28, 2026 08:07 AM ET

McLaren plans late-season car upgrades after Austin struggles

Fourth-row starts in Texas yielded fifth and seventh place

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 59m1 min read
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Photo via @SkySportsF1 on X

What happened: McLaren will introduce additional car updates across the closing rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, per Sky Sports F1. The development push follows a United States Grand Prix weekend where initial brake and floor revisions failed to put the team in podium contention.

Why it matters: The pace deficit at Circuit of the Americas left McLaren tied atop the Constructors' Championship exiting Texas. Rivals have erased the Woking squad's early-season pace edge during the autumn stretch, turning the final rounds into a development race.

By the numbers: McLaren's constructors' lead shrank from 76 points to seven across three rounds entering Austin before disappearing completely on Sunday, even as the pit crew clocked a 2.11-second stop for its second fastest-pit honor of 2026.

What to watch: The championship fight moves next to the Mexican Grand Prix, where McLaren debuts a Velo livery update while preparing the new upgrade packages for the run-in.

Sources

  • @SkySportsF1 

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