McLaren issues mount after Austin and Singapore

Reports from Austin and after Singapore point to ongoing McLaren problems, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri sitting sixth and seventh in 2026.

Reports after the United States Grand Prix weekend pointed to ongoing McLaren problems. Formula1.com reported Lando Norris said the car was not quick enough, while Autosport said he felt McLaren had to be near-perfect to extract pace and remained a step behind.

The Singapore clash with Oscar Piastri also remained part of the story. Autosport reported Norris said he needed to make better decisions after further talks about that incident. In Austin, Motorsport.com reported Norris criticised his own qualifying, then finished fifth, while Piastri qualified seventh.

Norris is sixth in the 2026 drivers’ championship on 211 points and has 11 wins and 16 poles from 161 Grands Prix. Piastri is seventh on 144 points after 79 starts. Autosport also reported team principal Andrea Stella does not expect a full solution to the car’s handling traits before 2027 because more fundamental changes would be required.