McLaren faces challenges with 2026 car performance at United States Grand Prix
3 sources • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 23, 2026, 11:04 PM
Last updated Oct 23, 2026
During practice for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Lando Norris expressed concerns about McLaren's performance, stating, "We're just a step behind." This sentiment follows a difficult start to the 2026 season, where two mid-season victories appear to have been an anomaly rather than a sign of sustained competitiveness. The team aims to address these performance issues with final upgrades before the season concludes.
- •Lando Norris cites performance struggles after practice in Austin.
- •Two mid-season wins are now seen as a temporary uptick.
- •McLaren aims to implement final performance upgrades for 2026.
- 11:04 PMAutosport — McLaren's aims for its final F1 2026 upgrades amid decline in form
- 11:00 PMMotorsport.com — "We're just a step behind" - what McLaren is trying to solve with its final 2026 upgrades
- 11:00 PMYahoo Sports — "We're just a step behind" - what McLaren is trying to solve with its final 2026 upgrades
""To get the car to be quick, we just have to try so hard to be perfect, and you cannot be perfect," said Lando Norris after practice for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin. "We're just a step behind." Two mid-season wins for Norris now appear to be a 'purple patch' rather than harbingers of a competitive renaissance for McLaren after a troubled start to the 2026 season. At the ...Keep reading
""To get the car to be quick, we just have to try so hard to be perfect, and you cannot be perfect," said Lando Norris after practice for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin. "We're just a step behind." Two mid-season wins for Norris now appear to be a 'purple patch' rather than harbingers of a competitive renaissance for McLaren after a troubled start to the 2026 season. At the ...Keep reading
"Slow-corner performance remains a problem for the "knife edge" MCL40, so McLaren has been working towards a revised suspension geometry as well as a different aerodynamic philosophy
Sources
External links- AutosportOct 23, 2026, 11:04 PMMcLaren's aims for its final F1 2026 upgrades amid decline in form
"To get the car to be quick, we just have to try so hard to be perfect, and you cannot be perfect," said Lando Norris after practice for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin. "We're just a step behind." Two mid-season wins for Norris now appear to be a 'purple patch' rather than harbingers of a competitive renaissance for McLaren after a troubled start to the 2026 season. At the ...Keep reading
- Motorsport.comOct 23, 2026, 11:00 PM"We're just a step behind" - what McLaren is trying to solve with its final 2026 upgrades
"To get the car to be quick, we just have to try so hard to be perfect, and you cannot be perfect," said Lando Norris after practice for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin. "We're just a step behind." Two mid-season wins for Norris now appear to be a 'purple patch' rather than harbingers of a competitive renaissance for McLaren after a troubled start to the 2026 season. At the ...Keep reading
- Yahoo SportsOct 23, 2026, 11:00 PM"We're just a step behind" - what McLaren is trying to solve with its final 2026 upgrades
Slow-corner performance remains a problem for the "knife edge" MCL40, so McLaren has been working towards a revised suspension geometry as well as a different aerodynamic philosophy
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