McLaren is expected to bring a major upgrade package to the Formula 1Miami Grand Prix, as it prepares to launch a challenge to Mercedes in 2026.
McLaren achieved a resurgence in Suzuka, following a difficult start to the 2026 season for the reigning constructors’ champions, and reigning driver’s world champion Lando Norris.
Oscar Piastri qualified third, following failing to start the opening two races, taking and holding the lead until the pit stops, the Australian finishing the race in second.
The MCL40 showed flashes of promise during the race, but still lacks the ultimate pace to the dominant Mercedes package that has won the opening three races of 2026.
But Sky Sports commentator David Croft believes the enforced break before the Miami GP will allow McLaren to make up ground, with a substantial upgrade planned to close the gap.
“Yeah, I agree” he said on the Sky Sports podcast about whether Mercedes will be frustrated teams have an extended period to work on their cars.
“And I think McLaren have a big, big upgrade coming in Miami that they’re already very pleased with in terms of the numbers it’s given them from the simulator.
A victory lost in Japan for McLaren?
Croft reiterated the widely held belief that Piastri could have won the Japanese GP, if not the Safety Car deployed after Oliver Bearman’s horror crash at Spoon Curve.
“I think Oscar Piastri might have won [in Japan], actually, without the safety car,” he said.
“And I know Kimi’s pace before the safety car was pretty lightning, but he still had to fight his way through the field a little bit and make some overtakes.
“Oscar had track position, and I think, had he kept that track position, he would have gone on to win it.
“He looked so comfortable, and that was one of the big takeaways. From a pleasing perspective for me, Oscar A) got to race and B) looked pretty good when he was racing.”
Croft’s take on McLaren offers hope to a neutral viewer of a battle against Mercedes, a view that is not unwarranted.
McLaren has proven in the past that it can develop its way out of a nadir situation, transforming its fortunes in 2023 with a series of upgrade packages that took to titles in 2024 and 2025.
Eyes will be on McLaren in Miami to see if the extra time afforded by the cancellations of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will lead to an accelerated revival, or if Mercedes is too far ahead to be caught.
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