McLaren Confirm New MCL40 Upgrades for Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Four-Way Fight for Victory

McLaren have confirmed they will introduce another package of aerodynamic upgrades at this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix as they prepare for an intense four-way battle for victory with Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull on the streets of Baku.

After failing to win any of the opening 10 races of the campaign, the reigning constructors' champions have experienced a resurgence in form. Lando Norris has secured three pole positions and two victories across the last four rounds, having only missed out on a third win in Madrid due to an untimely Virtual Safety Car.

The Woking-based outfit revealed in their official preview that new parts will be brought to Baku alongside the return of their rotating 'H-Wing', which made its debut at Monza before being set aside for the Madrid street circuit.

"As part of the team's continued journey throughout the 2026 season, the team will bring to Baku a set of upgrades aimed to improve the aerodynamic performance of the MCL40," the team confirmed. "Additionally the H-Wing, that debuted in Monza, will be back in action on a track where the drag reduction can be a factor."

Development Push Continues Despite Championship Deficit

McLaren chief technical officer and chief designer Rob Marshall emphasised that the squad remains highly driven to push performance developments, despite Mercedes and championship leader Kimi Antonelli holding commanding leads in the standings.

"With regulatory continuity into next season and the competition at the front so close, our motivation to keep developing the car remains high," Marshall explained. "We must balance that with work on next year's car, but our immediate focus is on delivering more performance and fighting for more victories in 2026, while carrying forward everything we learn."

Challenges of the Baku City Circuit

Marshall highlighted the unique engineering demands posed by Baku's combination of ultra-long straights and tight, technical corners.

"Energy management and deployment will be particularly important, as will tyre and brake management with the cars arriving at Turn 1 after the long straight with these areas relatively cold," Marshall said. "Operationally, there is very little margin for error on a tight street circuit. A small mistake can lead to significant repairs, lost track time and resources being diverted away from performance."

Looking ahead to the weekend, Marshall concluded: "We expect any of the top four teams to be capable of winning in Baku, with the chasing pack also getting closer, and we hope to be firmly in the fight at the front."