McLaren will introduce extensive upgrades across seven areas of the MCL40 for this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, continuing an aggressive development push that began in Miami.
The team has confirmed new components spanning the floor, chassis, front and rear wings, bodywork, halo and roll hoop for the race at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, having debuted seven separate updates in Florida.
“As established at the beginning of the season, Miami served as the first big step in our plan to add performance to the MCL40,” the team said ahead of the weekend in Canada.
“This continues this weekend in Montreal, with a number of new components across the floor, chassis, front and rear wings, bodywork, halo and roll hoop.”
The most compelling single update is the rear wing, which is believed to be McLaren’s take on the “Macarena” wing concept.
It sets up an intriguing battle with Mercedes, which deliberately held back its first major upgrade package of the season from Miami — unlike the Woking-based squad, Ferrari and Red Bull — in order to introduce it at the Canadian Grand Prix instead.
McLaren’s double upgrade push comes after a strong showing in the Sunshine State, where Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured a sprint one-two, and both drivers reached the podium in the grand prix, finishing second and third behind Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli.
The reigning constructors’ champion has amassed 94 points so far this season and sits third in the constructors’ championship, 16 points behind second-placed Ferrari and 86 adrift of leaders Mercedes.
“The competition in Miami was close, but the team secured a sprint 1-2 and a double podium,” McLaren added. “The team is recharged after the two-weekend break from racing and is prepared to carry this momentum into the next North American round at a track favoured by many drivers.”
The team will hope the upgrades can help further close the gap to Mercedes — which held a two-tenths-per-lap advantage in Miami, according to team principal Andrea Stella — or at least neutralise the Silver Arrows’ own developments.
With both teams now bringing major development packages to Canada, the performance swing could prove decisive in the championship battle.
