P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren looks set to bide its time to develop its new car, rather than rushing out upgrades early on.
McLaren has decided not to introduce updates to its 2026 F1 car before the Australian Grand Prix, unlike many of its rivals.
All 11 F1 teams will test their new cars at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya over five days next week.
There is a focus on quickly developing the cars after the test and across two three-day tests in Bahrain in February before heading to Melbourne for the season-opener on March 6-8.
McLaren’s chief designer, Rob Marshall, emphasized the team’s strategy to first understand the car before deciding on potential upgrades.
They need to grasp the new power units and aerodynamics, as well as observe what developments other teams might introduce.
Marshall stated that the team’s primary goal is to comprehend their platform before considering extensive redesigns.
This cautious approach aims to avoid complicating matters and instead fine-tune their car effectively for the upcoming season.
