Key Facts
- What: McLaren brings braking and small floor upgrades to Austin.
- Who: Chief technical officer Rob Marshall calls it a ‘modest selection of upgrades’.
- Why: McLaren scored 33 points in three races; Red Bull is seven points behind.
- Race: Sunday, 25 October, 4:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. CDT), 56 laps.
- Practice: Friday, 23 October: FP1 at 1:30 p.m. ET and FP2 at 5:00 p.m. ET.
McLaren will bring a ‘modest selection of upgrades’ to the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, says chief technical officer Rob Marshall. The package targets braking reliability and performance, and our US Grand Prix 2026 updates follow the weekend.
McLaren Targets Braking Gains
Besides the brake work, McLaren will test small floor changes at the Circuit of The Americas. The reigning constructors’ champions say their last three races fell ‘significantly short of expectations’, with only 33 points scored.
This story is part of our coverage of the us grand prix 2026. Dates, times and how to follow it are in our guide.
Red Bull took four top-three finishes in that run, including two wins for Max Verstappen. That cut McLaren’s lead in the fight for third in the constructors’ standings to just seven points.
Five Teams Run Special Liveries
Five of the 11 Formula 1 teams will race with revised liveries or race-weekend designs in Austin: Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin, Haas and Cadillac. Ferrari’s SF-26 cars for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc carry an engineering-themed design with blueprint-style artwork.
Mercedes has added blue sections to its W17 and special race suits for George Russell and championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Aston Martin’s design marks five years of its Cognizant partnership, Haas promotes the film Godzilla Minus Zero, and Cadillac uses Texas and western-leather motifs.
Austin Weekend Schedule
Free Practice 1 is on Friday, 23 October at 12:30 p.m. CDT (1:30 p.m. ET), and Free Practice 2 is at 4:00 p.m. CDT (5:00 p.m. ET). On Saturday, final practice is at 12:30 p.m. CDT (1:30 p.m. ET) and qualifying at 4:00 p.m. CDT (5:00 p.m. ET).
The race starts on Sunday, 25 October at 3:00 p.m. CDT (4:00 p.m. ET) and runs 56 laps. Austin opens an Americas triple-header, followed by Mexico and Brazil.
What It Means for US Readers
This is a home race for American fans, and the times above are ready for an Eastern Time viewer. Ferrari arrives after Charles Leclerc finished second in Singapore.
Kimi Antonelli could secure his first drivers’ championship in Austin, though the exact points arithmetic has not been published.
What Is Not Known
It is not known whether McLaren’s revisions will deliver a measurable gain or change the order against Red Bull and Ferrari. No FIA technical ruling or measured performance data had been published by 22 October.
The finishing combinations Antonelli needs to clinch the title in Austin have not been reported. No prediction market on the McLaren upgrades was found.
Sources
Sky Sports, Formula 1, Ferrari, Speedcafe, Audi F1.
Keep Reading
- Formula 1 US Grand Prix Austin, 23 to 25 October
- F1 US Grand Prix 2026 in Austin: Times, TV and Tickets
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error
Frequently Asked Questions
What upgrades is McLaren bringing to Austin?
McLaren is bringing a ‘modest selection of upgrades’ aimed at braking reliability and performance. It will also test small floor changes at the Circuit of The Americas.
When does the United States Grand Prix start in Eastern Time?
The race starts on Sunday, 25 October at 4:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. CDT). It runs 56 laps.
Which teams have special liveries in Austin?
Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin, Haas and Cadillac have unveiled special looks. Aston Martin marks five years of its Cognizant partnership, and Cadillac uses Texas and western-leather motifs.
Why did McLaren need upgrades?
McLaren scored only 33 points in the last three races and called the results ‘significantly short of expectations’. Red Bull has closed to within seven points in the constructors’ standings.
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