The sport of Formula 1 has frequently seen periods dominated by a single team. When a particular team successfully deciphers the requirements of a new regulatory period, it often maintains its top position for several seasons until rivals close the gap or the regulations undergo further adjustments. Examples include the eras of Michael Schumacher with Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel with Red Bull, and Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes.
This pattern does not diminish the remarkable nature of those sustained periods of success, much like McLaren’s ongoing supremacy in 2025 – securing its second straight constructors’ championship by the Singapore Grand Prix in September – served as a powerful testament to its resurgence at the pinnacle of the sport.
Triumphing Through Diverse Eras
However, McLaren now faces its most significant hurdle. Will its period of superiority endure through the most substantial regulatory overhaul seen in many decades?
Given a completely fresh start for the chassis, aerodynamic components, and power unit, it appears that only a handful of specific advantages will directly transfer. Nevertheless, the fundamental principles and operational methods that transformed McLaren into a victorious entity persist.
During exclusive comments to Autosport throughout the 2025 season, McLaren team boss Andrea Stella indicated his belief that his squad would not be starting from zero. He pointed out that certain components would carry over, irrespective of the technical regulations.
He explained that one such component involved the fundamental technical approaches, where they prioritized aerodynamic efficiency, tire interaction, and efficient cooling—principles that are universally applicable. Stella also suggested that a portion of their accumulated knowledge would be transferable to the 2026 development, while another part would necessitate re-invention, thus lacking transferability. Nevertheless, he noted that some methodological aspects, or how they generate this knowledge, would indeed be portable.
Therefore, Stella reasoned that a substantial amount of the fundamental factors contributing to their current strong position would be transferable, though a certain measure would be lost. This loss, he thought, could potentially create a level playing field among all teams, irrespective of their 2025 standing.
Lando Norris, McLaren
Photo by: McLaren
Despite the numerous modifications between the 2025 and 2026 seasons, McLaren will at least retain the same power unit provider in Mercedes. This supplier has shown promising results during the initial shakedown in Barcelona, appearing consistently dependable from the start. Additionally, McLaren gains strength from the recruitment of Will Courtenay from Red Bull, who was initially appointed as the team’s new sporting director in 2024 and has now officially commenced his role with the Woking-headquartered squad.
Preserving an Engaging Driver Pair
Further contributing to McLaren’s stability is its potent driver duo, composed of current world champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who secured third place in 2025. Norris, a world champion with notable imperfections, triumphed over personal insecurities and technical challenges with the 2025 McLaren to claim his inaugural title. That championship initially seemed destined for Piastri, until the Australian endured a challenging period, causing him to fall to third behind Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Should McLaren succeed in contending for victories, the evolution of the internal team dynamic within the Woking base between Norris and Piastri will be compelling to observe. Will Norris’s recently acquired self-assurance drive him to achieve even more significant accomplishments, or will Piastri gain further strength in his fourth year by resolving his lingering minor deficiencies?
Regardless of the outcome, McLaren has committed to refining its operational guidelines while upholding a policy of equitable treatment. The team has already surmounted a major obstacle by demonstrating its capability to operate effectively with two top-tier drivers, though this path was not entirely free of complications, as Oscar Piastri highlighted.
Piastri remarked that the team likely created some unnecessary difficulties for themselves at various times in the previous year. He acknowledged that, as a fundamental approach to competition, having two strong drivers offered numerous advantages, and the challenge lay in perfecting that approach to maximize only the positive aspects.
He added that there would certainly be some adjustments this year, but emphasized that their strong desire to race as cohesively as a team as possible remained evident.
