McLaren reveals two reasons for its ‘dark side’ start to the 2026 season

McLaren’s title defence opened in the shadows. After three races the team sits third with 46 points, thanks to Oscar Piastri’s second place at Suzuka. The start was marred by three DNFs and power‑unit glitches that kept both cars off the grid in Australia and China.

Why it matters:

The early setbacks show how crucial a reliable HPP power unit is. While the Mercedes engine gives McLaren a strong base, unlocking its full output has taken longer than planned. Additionally, the grueling 2025 title fight stretched development staff, leaving the MCL40 launch less refined than rivals.

The details:

• Unlocking the Mercedes HPP unit took longer than expected, with pre‑race electrical faults causing DNFs and reduced pace.
• The 2025 title fight forced a compromise in the MCL40 design, prioritising a stable launch over aggressive upgrades, which left the car slower than Mercedes and Ferrari.

What's next:

Stella sees progress – Piastri’s podium and a faster development pace as the car adapts to the 2026 rules. Next steps are fixing reliability, extracting more HPP power and accelerating aero upgrades. If the pace holds, McLaren can close the gap to the front‑runners before the summer break.