McLaren Targets Third Place in Constructors’ Championship at Mexico City GP

Woking, United Kingdom, October 28, 2026: McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team heads to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, aiming to strengthen its position in the Constructors’ Championship as the Formula 1 season enters its final phase. With McLaren and Red Bull level on points and five races remaining, the battle for third place is set to intensify over the closing rounds.

The Mexico City Grand Prix is the middle round of the Americas triple-header, following the United States Grand Prix in Austin and preceding the São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil. With limited time to analyse data and adapt to different circuit characteristics between events, the sequence presents a demanding challenge for teams and drivers.

For McLaren, the immediate priority is to deliver a clean and competitive weekend in Mexico before carrying that momentum into the final races of the 2026 campaign.

Mexico City Circuit Presents Unique Technical Challenges

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez sits 2,238 metres above sea level, making it one of the most technically demanding venues on the Formula 1 calendar.

The high altitude results in thinner air, reducing aerodynamic downforce by around 20% compared with sea-level conditions. Consequently, even with a high-downforce setup, the MCL40 generates less aerodynamic grip than it would at lower-altitude circuits.

The thinner air also reduces cooling efficiency, requiring teams to adjust brake ducts and bodywork openings to maintain suitable operating temperatures for the brakes and power unit. These compromises must be balanced against aerodynamic performance and the need to remain competitive through the circuit’s varied corners.

The track combines fast and slow sections with bumps and kerbs, placing a premium on mechanical grip, car balance and driver confidence. McLaren will begin Friday’s opening practice session with a baseline setup developed through simulation and work at its Woking headquarters before refining the package throughout the weekend.

The objective is to have the MCL40 operating competitively across both low- and high-speed sections by the end of the third practice session.

The circuit’s atmosphere is another defining feature, with passionate Mexican fans creating a memorable backdrop, particularly around the Foro Sol stadium section leading into the final corners.

McLaren to Run Limited Updates in Mexico

Following the introduction of changes to the front and rear corners of the MCL40 at the United States Grand Prix, McLaren will head to Mexico with its car largely unchanged.

The team plans to bring only a small selection of parts to the circuit, with further developments in the pipeline for the remaining rounds of the 2026 season, beginning with the São Paulo Grand Prix.

As Formula 1 continues through the first season of its new technical regulations, McLaren remains focused on learning, improving and extracting maximum performance from its current package. The data collected in Mexico will help the team refine its understanding of the car while preparing for the final stretch of the championship.

With McLaren and Red Bull level on points, the five remaining races effectively form a mini-championship for third place in the Constructors’ standings. Every point will be crucial as both teams look to finish the season as strongly as possible.

Leonardo Fornaroli Returns for McLaren FP1 Sessions

Leonardo Fornaroli, who was recently announced as part of McLaren’s Hypercar Team, will return to the MCL40 for the opening practice sessions at the Mexico City and São Paulo Grands Prix.

The Italian driver will replace Lando Norris in FP1 in Mexico before taking over Oscar Piastri’s car in Brazil. These outings will complete McLaren’s four mandatory rookie practice sessions for the 2026 season, following Fornaroli’s earlier appearances in Barcelona-Catalunya and Hungary.

Fornaroli has also undertaken extensive simulator work and testing in a previous-generation McLaren Formula 1 car to prepare for the sessions. His primary objectives will be to collect useful data, help the team refine its setup and support preparations for Norris and Piastri.

“I am excited to be getting back into the MCL40 for the upcoming Free Practice 1 sessions in both Mexico City and São Paulo. They’re new circuits for me, which is a good challenge,” Fornaroli said.

He highlighted the low-grip conditions and altitude in Mexico as key learning opportunities, while describing Brazil’s iconic circuit features as something to look forward to.

Fornaroli added that his preparations had included dedicated simulator work and testing in the previous year’s double World Championship-winning car, providing valuable mileage ahead of his return to the track.

“My focus will be on helping the team set up Lando and Oscar’s cars and gathering a good bank of data. I am ready and eager to get out on circuit for both FP1 sessions,” he said.

With the Constructors’ Championship battle tightening, McLaren will be looking to maximise its opportunities in Mexico City before heading to Brazil for the next stage of its fight with Red Bull.