Formula 1 world champion McLaren unveils the new MCL40 for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, but not yet the final color scheme of the car.
Just in time for the start of the 2026 Formula 1 shakedown in Barcelona, world champion team McLaren has released the first images of its new MCL40. The racing team from Woking, England, showed studio photos of the car that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will use to defend their world championship title.
However, the first pictures do not show the final color design of the McLaren MCL40: McLaren will compete in the first test drives of the year in an interim design that is predominantly black. Gray accents and colorful sponsor stickers complement the livery. McLaren plans to reveal the final design on February 9.
The most striking feature of the new McLaren is the shape of its nose, which differs significantly from the Formula 1 cars of its competitors shown so far because it appears longer and is pulled further down. From the side, the design is even reminiscent of the extreme solutions from the 2014 season, which were mocked at the time as “penis noses.”
Massive hood on the McLaren MCL40
McLaren’s wind deflector solution is also interesting: where Ferrari and Red Bull, for example, use a slatted design for the side air deflectors, McLaren uses a one-piece solution on the MCL40 that only has a vertical cut. The struts on the chassis are also different from those used by Ferrari and Red Bull.
From the front, the design of the airbox behind the cockpit is particularly striking: it looks bulky and is reminiscent of Alpine designs from previous years, making it significantly larger than on previous McLaren cars.
In the 2025 season, McLaren won both Formula 1 world championship titles for the first time since 1998. In 2026, the traditional team will also present itself with a new title sponsor.