McLaren will not participate on the opening day of the Formula 1 Barcelona shakedown test from January 26-30, opting to maximize development time for its 2026 MCL40 car. The team plans to start testing on day two or three, focusing on understanding the new regulations rather than rushing upgrades. Chief designer Rob Marshall indicated no substantial changes are expected before the Australian Grand Prix.
McLaren, the reigning Formula 1 world champions, are taking a measured approach to the 2026 season amid major technical regulation changes overhauling chassis and engine designs. The team has decided to skip the first day of the behind-closed-doors shakedown test at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, scheduled for January 26-30, where teams are limited to three running days each.
Team principal Andrea Stella explained the rationale during a media roundtable: "We wanted to give ourselves as much time as possible for development because every day of development, every day of design was adding a little bit of performance." The MCL40, currently undergoing dyno testing at AVL facilities in Austria, will arrive in Barcelona for a shakedown before full testing begins. McLaren's official launch is set for February 9, after the initial track action.
This strategy contrasts with Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu's view that all cars would evolve significantly by the Australian Grand Prix opener. McLaren's technical leads emphasize comprehension over immediate updates. Chief designer Rob Marshall stated: "Between Barcelona and Melbourne, I think what you see is probably pretty much what we'll bring to the first race. A lot of our effort will be into understanding this."
Technical director Mark Temple highlighted uncertainties in aerodynamic predictions under the new rules: "There are some aspects of the new regulations that make the aerodynamics more complicated... harder to kind of predict on track." The team aims to monitor rivals closely for inspiration while avoiding early redesigns that could complicate setup. Stella added that despite the changes, "Everyone will start from zero," underscoring the level playing field.
This focus on baseline understanding reflects McLaren's ambition to launch the car in its most competitive configuration, balancing development gains against the risks of premature commitments.
