Defending constructors’ champion McLaren is halfway through the 2026 season, and after a difficult start to the season, is in third place in the constructors’ championship. Although the gap to championship leader Mercedes is large, team principal Andrea Stella has not given up on the dream of a third consecutive title. “We have placed a new display cabinet for the recent trophies and have the duty to fill it,” said the Italian.
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McLaren won the constructors’ title again in 2024 after twenty-six years. A year later, the British team went one step further and also secured the drivers’ title for Lando Norris. Halfway through the 2026 season, McLaren faces a deficit of 159 championship points to leader Mercedes, but team principal Andrea Stella remains hopeful of defending the title.
“If we can continue the season as we did in Budapest, I think we can still achieve a lot,” Stella said in an interview with McLaren itself. “To do that, we need to continue developing the MCL40 and ensure that we stay ahead of our rivals – who certainly are not standing still – in this battle for updates.”
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‘Further filling the display cabinet’
The start of the season was still rough for McLaren with a double retirement during the recent Chinese GP as a low point. Meanwhile, the team, with Lando Norris crossing the finish line first in Hungary, has secured the first win of the season. According to Stella, it is therefore mainly a matter of maintaining this momentum.
“There are still twelve races on the calendar, so there are plenty of opportunities, as there are 546 points to be earned,” Stella remains optimistic. “Of course, the deficit in both championships is significant, but we have learned the lesson from last year well: I always tell the team that since we have placed a new display cabinet for the recent trophies at the McLaren Technology Centre, we have the duty to do our utmost to keep filling it.”
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