McLaren has learned the lesson of 2025 to prepare its 2027 single-seater

McLaren faces a classic dilemma approaching the second half of the season: continue developing its current car while gradually dedicating more resources to the next year’s project.

This time, however, Andrea Stella approaches the situation with much more calm. The McLaren director believes that the transition from the MCL40 to the 2027 car will be much less delicate than the transition experienced last year.

In 2025, the British team had to continue developing its car until the end to win both world titles, while simultaneously preparing a completely different car for the new 2026 regulations. A choice that had significant consequences at the start of the season.

Two almost opposite goals in 2025

McLaren had a particularly intense 2025 campaign. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had long contested the drivers’ championship before Max Verstappen rejoined the fight during the second half of the season.

Norris ultimately clinched the title at the last round in Abu Dhabi, giving McLaren its first drivers’ championship since Lewis Hamilton in 2008. The team also retained its constructors’ title.

To achieve this, McLaren had, however, continued to dedicate significant resources to developing its 2025 car. At the same time, engineers had to prepare the MCL40 for a completely new set of regulations.

“In a way, it is easier this year to find a balance between the two demands”, explains Andrea Stella.

“In 2025, we had to find a balance between two extremes: pushing to the limit to win the world championship and having to design practically a new car from scratch.”

This compromise ultimately penalized McLaren at the start of the 2026 season, Mercedes and Ferrari having initially taken the lead.

A much smoother transition to 2027

The situation is now different. Unlike the regulatory upheaval that occurred this winter, the changes planned for 2027 will be relatively limited.

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McLaren will therefore not have to start from scratch and will be able to transfer much of the knowledge gained this season to its next car.

“This year, the transition between the two projects is much smoother, given that the regulatory changes are relatively minor”, continues Stella.

This continuity is an important advantage as the cars complying with the 2026 regulations still have considerable development potential.

After a difficult start to the season, McLaren has indeed made significant progress. The set of upgrades introduced at the Hungarian Grand Prix allowed Norris to return to victory and confirmed that the team is beginning to better understand its MCL40.

2026 progress will also serve in 2027

For Stella, continuing to work on the current car does not necessarily mean sacrificing the 2027 project. The two programs are much more closely linked than those of the previous two seasons.

“We must keep in mind that this generation of cars is still in its early stages, both in terms of chassis and power unit. Practically everything we continue to learn in 2026 will therefore be useful to us next year.”

McLaren will still have to carefully manage its resources. The budget cap limits spending, while restrictions on aerodynamic testing require precise allocation of available wind tunnel hours and computer simulations.

“We will obviously have to find the right balance regarding the budget cap, wind tunnel hours, computer simulations, as well as resource allocation between design and production.”

Stella remains confident: “I think we are in a good position in all these areas.”

After paying the price early in the season for its ambitious 2025 campaign, McLaren intends to avoid repeating the same scenario. This time, continuing the development of the MCL40 could serve both its immediate ambitions and prepare its future car.

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