Ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, McLaren have confirmed they will arrive with fresh upgrades. They are also forecasting a four-way contest for the win, pitting themselves against Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. The upgrades follow a stretch of solid form from Lando Norris, who has secured three pole positions and two race wins across the last four rounds.
Azerbaijan holds its Grand Prix on Saturday instead of the usual Sunday, opening a run of three back-to-back races. The event begins at 12pm on Saturday, with Sky Sports F1 showing every session.
Norris’s recent run
Over the past several rounds, Norris has emerged as McLaren’s most consistent driver, claiming pole position at three of the last four races. His only failure to add a third win came when a virtual safety car changed the timing of an otherwise dominant performance in Madrid.
The results have pushed McLaren back into contention for victories. The team’s official preview for this weekend’s race revealed that new parts will be brought to Baku, with the rotating ‘H-Wing’ returning to the car after not being used in Madrid.
The group stated “As part of the team’s continued journey throughout the 2026 season, the team will bring to Baku a set of upgrades aimed to improve the aerodynamic performance of the MCL40,”.
The H-Wing returns
The H-Wing, which made its first appearance at Monza, returns to a track where reducing drag can make a difference. Every new part will be assessed during practice sessions, with the team using that information to settle on the MCL40’s qualifying and grand prix setups for the weekend.
McLaren chief technical officer and chief designer Rob Marshall explained the team’s approach. Despite the title hopes being extremely thin, with Kimi Antonelli dominating the Drivers’ Championship and his Mercedes team well clear in the constructors’ standings, McLaren are still keen to keep developing the car.
“With regulatory continuity into next season and the competition at the front so close, our motivation to keep developing the car remains high,” Marshall said.
“We must balance that with work on next year’s car, but our immediate focus is on delivering more performance and fighting for more victories in 2026, while carrying forward everything we learn.”
Marshall on Baku
The Baku circuit is expected to produce thrilling competition among the leading teams, according to Marshall. Its design includes the longest straight on the F1 calendar, paired with several slow corners, which makes for a demanding setup.
“Baku will provide another valuable test of the MCL40 across a very different range of characteristics,” Marshall added.
“Energy management and deployment will be particularly important, as will tyre and brake management with the cars arriving at Turn 1 after the long straight with these areas relatively cold.”
The tight street circuit presented an operational challenge, he observed. Even a minor error can result in substantial repairs, lost track time, and resources being redirected away from performance. That means confidence, precision, and disciplined execution will be essential throughout the weekend.
“We expect any of the top four teams to be capable of winning in Baku, with the chasing pack also getting closer, and we hope to be firmly in the fight at the front.”
The weekend schedule
On Wednesday, the weekend opens with a Drivers’ Press Conference at 11am UK time. That is followed by Paddock Uncut at 2pm.
Thursday’s sessions begin with F2 Practice at 6.55am, followed by Azerbaijan GP Practice One at 9am, F2 Qualifying at 10.55am, Team Bosses’ Press Conference at 12pm and Practice Two at 12.30pm.
The day begins with the F2 Sprint at 5.10am, followed by Azerbaijan GP Practice Three at 9.15am. Then comes the F2 Feature Race 1, which starts at 11.10am, before the session wraps up with Qualifying at 1pm.
Saturday’s sessions include F2 Feature Race 2 at 7.55am, Grand Prix build-up at 10.30am and the race itself at 12pm.
What the upgrades are for
The improvements target the aerodynamic performance of the MCL40. McLaren have again shown strength in development, with upgrades brought to the car on a regular basis doing much to push them back into contention for victories.
One particular point of note concerns the H-Wing’s return to service. The team confirmed its comeback, stating that it will be back in action “on a track where the drag reduction can be a factor.”.
The triple-header
The Azerbaijan race is the first of a three-race weekend. McLaren’s focus remains on performance in 2026 while also carrying forward lessons for next year’s car. Marshall’s comments make that clear.
The battle for victory
McLaren are heading into Baku with upgrades, and they believe they can be part of a four-way fight at the front. The team are quick at the moment, and the new parts they are bringing could give them an edge in the tight competition expected there.
Here’s how the three back-to-back races stack up:
- Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Saturday, 12pm
- Next round — Sunday, 12pm
- Third round — Sunday, 12pm
Source material: “McLaren predict four-way battle for Baku win after confirming more upgrades,” Sky Sports.
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