More new McLaren developments for Las Vegas GP as team pushes to keep momentum building

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says there will be further upgrades at the Las Vegas Grand Prix that compliment the latest parts that are building the foundations for a 2027 return to title contention.

Lando Norris won the Sao Paulo Grand Prix from pole position after McLaren was the only team to bring any new components to Interlagos, with a new front wing, floor furniture, and rear wing and beam wing combination. The front wing in particular was described as being an item that is set to be on the launch 2027 car, and while Stella is encouraged by the immediate step forward the parts provided, he says further introductions are due in Las Vegas.

“After the upgrades in Hungary, it was encouraging that we were in a position to win – we should have won Madrid, really – but after that, other people took upgrades and we lost this position,” Stella said. “I think we also paid the price of not having had great qualifying sessions. It would have been interesting to see Lando starting from the front in races like Austin or Mexico. I think it would have been definitely a fight for the podium. But it’s thanks to these upgrades that we are now in a condition to fight for the victory, combined with the [wet] conditions, surely.

“These upgrades, first of all, they will be complemented by some more parts that come in Vegas, and they form the foundation for what will be next year’s car. So it’s encouraging for the trajectory of McLaren that we seem to be able to transform our development into performance on track.”

As pleased as Stella was by the upgrades, he says the execution from the team in tricky conditions on Sunday was also an important step forward.

“It’s also important for McLaren that we had solid pit stops, because we don’t come from a period of consistent pit stops. And also execution in these mixed conditions, because we’ve had some disappointing races, like in Canada, where we were starting with the intermediate tires and the double extra formation lap. It was unlucky, honestly.

“So it’s good that we were able to master these conditions at the pit wall as well. And I’m very proud to have seen the team operating at this very high level.”

Norris’ victory came at the same time that Mercedes took the constructors’ title after back-to-back McLaren championships, and Stella says Toto Wolff’s team deserves praise for the benchmark it has set this year.

“I take the opportunity to congratulate Mercedes on winning the constructors’ championship. Formula 1 is operating, like I’ve been saying for some time, at a very high level, very high standards. To be able to win in this kind of competitive context is a reflection of great work that must have happened at Mercedes. They certainly deserve to be acknowledged.”