How McLaren's 2026 F1 car has ended up three months behind Mercedes

McLaren has fallen three months behind Mercedes in the development of its 2026 Formula 1 car, having gone from F1's benchmark team to a struggling contender in just over half a year. Team principal Andrea Stella attributed part of the deficit to resources being diverted to defending its 2025 championships against Red Bull and Max Verstappen. McLaren's hopes of defending its constructors' and drivers' titles are described as slim without a serious turnaround, which is not expected to begin until just before the summer break.