The 2025 season marked one of the strongest in McLaren\u2019s illustrious history, but the Woking-based outfit\u2019s title defence got off to a rocky start in 2026. Signs of progress have rapidly emerged across recent rounds, however, with Lando Norris claiming the team\u2019s first win of the campaign just prior to the summer break. What more is to come from the reigning champions? Here is their half term report\u2026<\/p>\n
Best finish<\/p>\n
Lando Norris \u2013 1st in Hungary<\/p>\n
McLaren<\/a> faced a tricky start to the campaign, with Oscar Piastri<\/a> unable to take the start at the season opener in Australia while both cars did not participate in the Chinese Grand Prix, leaving the papaya outfit with an early deficit to their rivals.<\/p>\n The team fought back with some podium finishes across the rounds that followed \u2013 including a 2-3 result in Miami, where the squad appeared in contention for a win \u2013 but they had to wait until Round 11 in Hungary for a Grand Prix victory courtesy of Norris<\/a>.<\/p>\n It was made all the sweeter by the fact that the triumph was a commanding one, with Norris converting his pole position into a maiden win as World Champion at the wheel of an upgraded MCL40 \u2013 marking a promising way for the team to sign off from the first half of the season.<\/p>\n Qualifying head-to-head<\/p>\n Norris 7-4 Piastri<\/p>\n Norris is currently leading the way in the Qualifying head-to-head statistics, the Briton having claimed a higher grid slot than his team mate on seven occasions \u2013 including his aforementioned Hungaroring pole position.<\/p>\n Piastri has not been far behind, though, with his best Saturday result being a P3 which he achieved in Japan and Hungary.<\/p>\n Race head-to-head<\/p>\n Norris 5-5 Piastri*<\/p>\n *No mark included for the Chinese Grand Prix as both drivers failed to start<\/p>\n It is equal footing for Norris and Piastri when it comes to race day results, the duo holding five higher finishes apiece.<\/p>\n The pair are also on even terms for non-finishes, with Norris recording two DNFs while Piastri has suffered one retirement as well as a DNS in Australia. As noted above, neither driver was able to participate on race day in China.<\/p>\n Best moment<\/p>\n There were various moments of optimism for McLaren during the first half of the season, from a solid showing after delivering their first significant upgrades of the campaign in Miami \u2013 a weekend in which Norris won the Sprint<\/a> \u2013 to another podium for Norris in Barcelona.<\/p>\n Inevitably, though, Norris\u2019 return to the top step on Sunday in Budapest ranks as the team\u2019s best moment of 2026 so far. After the British driver\u2019s eye-catching pole position on Saturday, Team Principal Andrea Stella<\/a> was keen to downplay the idea<\/a> that the squad had an advantage over their rivals.<\/p>\n But Norris\u2019 speed was clear on Sunday as the World Champion claimed his first victory since the 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, commenting afterwards<\/a>: \u201cMy pace today was probably some of the best pace I\u2019ve ever had. The car was beautiful to drive and I felt very confident, so a great race.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a performance that left Norris hopeful about what might be possible when the season resumes, as the 26-year-old added: \u201cConsidering how good it felt today, I certainly want to believe that we can continue it.\u201d<\/p>\n Worst moment<\/p>\n Just as there have been a number of high points for McLaren so far in 2026, the season has also brought with it more than one challenging moment.<\/p>\n Norris\u2019 back-to-back retirements in Canada and Monaco \u2013 each due to separate mechanical issues \u2013 marked a tough run for the Briton. Additionally, Piastri\u2019s DNF owing to a gearbox failure in Hungary \u2013 in the aftermath of contact with Williams<\/a>\u2019 Carlos Sainz<\/a> \u2013 showed that the team still have work to do in terms of reliability.<\/p>\n But perhaps the worst moment for McLaren was the squad\u2019s double DNS in China. Norris was unable to leave the garage after running into issues during the build-up to the race \u2013 and soon afterwards, Piastri had to be wheeled back to the pits from the grid when a problem was also detected on his car.<\/p>\n