According to Autosport, McLaren is heading to the Las Vegas Grand Prix with fresh updates for the MCL40, and the team is treating these new parts as the foundation for next year's machine. Team principal Andrea Stella explained that these incoming components will complement the 2027 front wing concept introduced previously in Brazil. That earlier package brought improvements in driveability and predictability, helping Lando Norris secure pole position and the race victory in wet conditions at Interlagos. That strong performance finally halted a five-round podium-less streak, which stood as the squad's worst dry patch since the first half of the 2023 campaign.
Stella also pointed back to earlier missed opportunities, noting that the team was in a position to win after the upgrades introduced in Hungary and that Norris should have taken victory in Madrid had it not been for the unfortunate timing of the Virtual Safety Car. However, other outfits soon brought their own developments, and McLaren lost that competitive edge while also struggling in qualifying. Stella emphasized that the upcoming parts arriving in Vegas form the baseline for the following season's car, proving that the squad can successfully transform development work into genuine on-track performance.
Despite the optimism surrounding the development trajectory, Las Vegas has historically been a brutal venue for the papaya squad. Back in 2023, during a phase when the team had become a regular podium threat, both cars crashed out in Q1, leaving Oscar Piastri to pick up a single point while Norris suffered a heavy crash on lap three after bottoming out. The following year brought a relatively quiet outing where the eventual constructors' champions qualified only sixth and eighth, ultimately finishing the race in sixth and seventh places, sitting 27 seconds adrift of the top five.
Last season offered a more promising grid position when Norris grabbed pole, with Norris and Piastri finishing second and fourth while Max Verstappen took the win. Unfortunately, that result was completely undone when both cars were disqualified due to excessive wear on the rearmost skid blocks of the MCL39s.
Looking at the specific traits of the MCL40, Stella does not anticipate the Nevada layout to naturally suit the car, especially given the near-2km full-throttle Strip section. The Italian noted that similar to circuits like Monza and Baku, tracks demanding extreme top speed do not necessarily play to McLaren's strengths, partly due to shorter gear ratios that prove less than ideal above certain speed thresholds.
Even so, the team approaches the weekend with optimism because the machine is simply faster now, and the event will provide valuable data on tyre management and car strengths. Ultimately, McLaren is eager to conquer a venue where they have struggled more than anywhere else on the calendar, looking to finally put past troubles—including last year's skid block headache—to rest and secure a strong result.
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