While the paddock expected a team to make a strong start from the very first laps, McLaren F1 Team has made an unexpected observation: the 2026 pecking order is far from settled. And above all, no clear favorite has yet emerged.
McLaren: a grid compressed like rarely before
Following the shakedowns in Barcelona and the initial tests in Sakhir, the technical director of McLaren, Rob Marshall He admits to being surprised by the extreme density of the field. Many imagined one team would take a clear lead at the start of the new engine cycle. So far, this scenario has not materialized.
Between the solid relays of Max Verstappen with Red Bull Racing, the top speed displayed by Lewis Hamilton in Scuderia Ferrari in Barcelona, or even the best time recorded by Lando Norris In Bahrain, the signals are multiple… but contradictory. It is impossible, at this stage, to identify a clear leader.
Marshall does not hide his astonishment: Honestly, I expected someone to come up with a package that would immediately satisfy everyone. That's not what we're seeing. »
According to the technical director of McLarenThe field appears structured around a compact group of highly competitive cars. Raw lap times remain misleading in testing, but long runs are starting to reveal more credible trends:
"When teams run a series of race simulations, more representative signals emerge. Red Bull has been impressive in this regard."
For McLarenThe real battle will not be fought with a spectacular performance in February, but with the ability to evolve.
"I don't see anyone pulling away quickly. This championship could be decided by consistency and the quality of development." " Explain Marshall.
In a 2026 era marked by a major technological revolution, the raw performance observed today might carry less weight than the progression curve. If the tests have delivered one certainty, it is this: the season promises to be long, strategic… and unpredictable.
