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McLaren admit 'challenging' F1 season is 'below our expectations'
June 2, 2026
Source: SkySports | News · Read on source site
McLaren are 113 points behind Mercedes in the F1 Constructors' Championship after five rounds but expect to be in a "good position" to try and repeat their Monaco triumph from last year; watch every session of the Monaco Grand Prix from Friday, live on Sky Sports F1
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>McLaren boss Andrea Stella has admitted the team have been "below our expectations" after a "challenging" first part of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
>For the second grand prix this year, both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri failed to score points last time out in Canada in a major blow to their title ambitions and McLaren's Constructors' Championship defence.
>Mercedes have won the five grands prix this season to lead Ferrari by 72 points and McLaren by 113 points ahead of this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1.
>"The start of the season has been challenging. We have had issues of a different kind," said Stella.
>"If you think the first race, we had the issues with Oscar in the laps to the grid, then China [with a double DNS], it was a painful one with a problem on the electrical side of the power unit.
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>"In Canada, we had issues pretty much in all areas of racing. From the sporting and racing side to reliability and an accident, so there's definitely lots to take away and review.
>"At the same time, there's encouraging indication in terms of the development of the car and how much we are learning in terms of power-unit exploitation.
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>"It's definitely below what would have been our expectation, to be in contention for the championship."
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>McLaren had been on an upward trajectory after challenging Mercedes for victory in Japan and Miami, with Norris winning the sprint from Piastri at the latter.
>Over the last three years, McLaren have been the benchmark when it comes to development but the front wing they brought to Canada was taken off the car following practice, suggesting it did not work as expected.
>Norris has since confirmed the front wing will be reintroduced either in Monaco, or at the more conventional track at the Spanish Grand Prix next weekend.
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>Stella is not writing off McLaren's title hopes but is wary the team have already lost a lot of points to Mercedes.
>He said: "We don't think very much of what's been. We just try to learn every day such that, for the next race, we are as prepared as possible. We are definitely believers that the championship is not signed off.
>"We want to be in this championship and we want the championship to be decided in Abu Dhabi. I think this is a strong determination that we have at McLaren and we want to make this happen."
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>Ferrari are widely seen as favourites for the all-important pole position this Saturday in Monaco which will give Charles Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton a big chance of victory on Sunday to end Mercedes' winning grands prix streak.
>While the regulations have completely changed from last year to this season, Ferrari and McLaren's car characteristics mean they could be the top two teams again in Monaco this weekend.
>Twelve months ago, Norris fended off Leclerc in a close race-long battle to win F1's most famous race for the first time.
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>Stella said: "We definitely can say that at the current level of development, the McLaren car is probably best suited for low-speed corners rather than medium and high-speed corners where we see Ferrari and Mercedes being superior. This should set us in a good position for Monaco.
>"At the same time, in Monaco there's a few medium and high-speed corners. Like the Casino Corner, that is more than 150kph, Tabac is 180kph, the Swimming Pool is 200kph, so actually medium and high-speed performance is important in Monaco.
>"But some of the low-speed corners are extremely low-speed. In a way it's in its own range. I definitely see Ferrari as probably the favourite, but McLaren can be competitive and we will try and repeat the achievement last year in Monaco."
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>Thursday June 4 12.20pm: F3 Practice 1.55pm: F2 Practice 2.55pm: Drivers' Press Conference 4pm: Paddock Uncut
>Friday June 5 10am: F3 Qualifying 12pm: Monaco GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm) 2.05pm: F2 Qualifying 3pm: Team Bosses' Press Conference 3.30pm: Monaco GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm) 5.15pm: The F1 Show
>Saturday June 6 9.40am: F3 Sprint 11.15am: Monaco GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am) 1.10pm: F2 Sprint 2.15pm: Monaco GP Qualifying build-up 3pm: MONACO GP QUALIFYING* 5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook
>Sunday June 7 6.50am: F3 Feature Race 8.30am: F2 Feature Race 10.50am: Porsche Supercup 12.30pm: Monaco GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday* 2pm: THE MONACO GRAND PRIX* 4pm: Monaco GP reaction: Chequered Flag* 5pm: Ted's Notebook
>Watch the Monaco Grand Prix, the first of six races in eight weeks, live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime