McLaren Heads to Monza with Back-to-Back Wins as Team Introduces New H-Wing for Italian GP

Monza, Italy, September 3, 2026: The McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team heads into the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza with strong momentum following back-to-back victories in Hungary and the Netherlands. However, the team expects a significantly different challenge at the “Temple of Speed”, with Monza’s unique low-downforce characteristics likely to compress the competitive order.

McLaren’s recent wins have highlighted the progress made with the MCL40, but the team acknowledges that its recent form does not necessarily guarantee an advantage at Monza. Several rivals are expected to bring circuit-specific components, making the fight at the front particularly close.

While McLaren does not expect the MCL40 to have the outright quickest package this weekend, the team will focus on maximising every session and taking advantage of opportunities to score valuable championship points.

McLaren Brings New H-Wing to Monza

McLaren will introduce a number of aerodynamic developments at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, including minor aerodynamic updates and previously declared components designed specifically for the circuit.

One of the key additions is the team’s H-Wing, which made its track debut during practice for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix in July.

The name H-Wing is a reference to McLaren’s innovative F-duct, which debuted in Formula 1 in 2010. The F-duct was named after the “F” in the branding positioned alongside the system’s inlet on the car.

McLaren’s H-Wing follows a similar naming convention, taking its name from the “H” in Etihad Airways branding displayed on the rear wing as part of McLaren’s partnership with the airline.

The new low-drag rear wing specification, including the first use of the H-Wing, will be available from Free Practice 1 at Monza.

McLaren will use the opening practice sessions to evaluate its aerodynamic options before deciding on the final specification for qualifying.

Monza Presents Unique Technical Challenge

Monza’s long straights place a major emphasis on drag reduction and top speed, while the heavy braking zones require a stable car and the chicanes demand good ride performance.

Energy management will also be an important factor throughout the weekend. With energy availability limited around the lap, teams will need to carefully understand how best to harvest and deploy energy.

Neil Houldey, Technical Director, Applied Engineering at McLaren, said the team is not taking its recent victories for granted despite arriving at Monza with strong momentum.

“We know we have had a quick car at the last few races, but we are not taking anything for granted,” Houldey said.

He expects the competitive order at Monza to look different from what was seen in Hungary and the Netherlands, particularly as rival teams continue to introduce aerodynamic and power unit developments.

Energy Management Could Influence Overtaking

According to Houldey, energy management could have an interesting impact on racing at Monza.

Different approaches to harvesting and deploying energy could result in cars gaining and losing performance at different sections of the lap. This could create what McLaren describes as a “yo-yo effect”, with drivers trading advantages throughout the circuit.

Managing overtakes will therefore be particularly important, as drivers need to balance immediate performance with energy availability later in the lap.

McLaren believes accurate pre-event simulation and simulator work will be critical given the extremely small performance margins at the front.

The team will use its practice sessions to refine the car and maximise the combination of the MCL40 and its drivers.

McLaren to Feature Special OKX Livery Enhancement

The McLaren MCL40 cars will also receive a special livery enhancement at Monza as part of the team’s ongoing collaboration with OKX, which began in 2022.

The latest design builds on previous McLaren and OKX collaborations, including the Stealth Mode livery at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, the McLaren SENNA presented by OKX livery at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix and the Riviera-inspired livery enhancement used at the 2025 Monaco and Spanish Grands Prix.

The special livery will be used on both McLaren cars throughout the 2026 Italian Grand Prix weekend before returning at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.

McLaren’s Strong Monza F1 Record

McLaren arrives at Monza with an impressive record at the Italian Grand Prix, having recorded 11 victories, 12 pole positions, 33 podium finishes and 16 fastest laps at the event.

The team’s most recent Monza victory came in 2021, when Daniel Ricciardo won the Italian Grand Prix driving the McLaren MCL35M. Lando Norris finished second, giving McLaren a memorable 1-2 result.

The 2021 victory was particularly significant for McLaren after a nine-year wait between Italian Grand Prix wins.

Ricciardo started from the front row, led into the first corner and remained in control of the race. Norris, meanwhile, recovered from a more eventful race to complete the McLaren 1-2.

The result also marked an important moment in McLaren’s resurgence, demonstrating that the team had the pace and execution required to capitalise when opportunities arose.

McLaren’s Italian GP Heritage

McLaren’s history at Monza also includes a significant victory in 1989, when Alain Prost secured his final McLaren career win driving the MP4/5.

The team’s 2021 victory remains its standout recent success at the circuit, with Ricciardo’s performance supported by strong race pace, effective strategy and rapid pit-stop execution.

The 2021 race also featured the high-profile collision between championship contenders Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, although McLaren’s drivers had already established themselves in strong positions before the incident.

For McLaren, the 2021 result represented more than just another Grand Prix victory. It provided confirmation that the team’s potential could be converted into results with the right combination of performance, strategy and execution.

McLaren Focused on Development of MCL40

Despite its recent victories, McLaren says development of the 2026 MCL40 remains a continuous process.

The team intends to use every update and every race weekend as an opportunity to learn more about the car and improve its performance across a wider range of circuits.

Houldey said McLaren believes there is still more performance to extract from the current package, both by maximising existing components and through further upgrades planned for upcoming races.

With Monza representing the first race of the final European double-header, McLaren’s immediate target will be to maximise its low-drag package, manage energy effectively and convert its recent momentum into another strong championship result.

The combination of a tight field, circuit-specific upgrades and Monza’s unique aerodynamic demands could make the 2026 Italian Grand Prix a major test of McLaren’s ability to adapt its winning MCL40 package to a very different type of circuit.