McLaren lead Red Bull by just seven points in constructors' fight as F1 heads to Austin

McLaren go into the United States Grand Prix in Austin with a lead of only seven points over Red Bull in the battle for third place in the 2026 constructors' championship. McLaren have 339 points and Red Bull have 332, with six rounds to run starting this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas.

The gap has narrowed quickly. Max Verstappen won the last two races, at Sepang in Malaysia on 4 October and in Singapore on 11 October. Red Bull have turned a difficult first half of the year into a real challenge for the places behind Mercedes and Ferrari.

Where the standings stand

Mercedes lead the constructors' table with 578 points. Ferrari are second with 444, more than 100 clear of both McLaren and Red Bull. That makes third place the closest fight among the top four teams.

Behind them, Racing Bulls are fifth with 100 points and Alpine sixth with 68. The top four are well separated from the rest.

Red Bull's turnaround

Red Bull brought a major upgrade to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in late September, reworking the sidepods, floor and cooling on the RB22. Since then, Verstappen has won twice. In Singapore he also took pole and won the sprint.

Verstappen is fourth in the drivers' standings on 221 points, 119 behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who leads on 340.

McLaren's problems

Lando Norris was fourth in Singapore and Oscar Piastri fifth. Norris finished roughly 40 seconds behind Verstappen and described the MCL40 as "effectively the fourth-fastest car", according to Grande Premio.

Team principal Andrea Stella has said McLaren will bring aerodynamic updates to Austin in stages rather than as one big package, with more to follow in the final rounds. The team has not confirmed which parts will arrive or whether both drivers will get the same specification. Some of the work will also help test ideas for the 2027 car.

What lies ahead

The final six rounds are Austin, Mexico City on 1 November, Sao Paulo on 8 November, Las Vegas, Qatar on 29 November and Abu Dhabi on 6 December. None of the remaining weekends is a sprint, so the most any team can add in one round is 43 points for a one-two finish. A seven-point lead can disappear in a single race.

Prize money is linked to final constructors' positions, so third place carries real value beyond pride.

Key takeaways

• McLaren lead Red Bull 339 to 332 for third in the constructors' standings.
• Verstappen has won both races since Red Bull's Azerbaijan upgrade.
• McLaren plan staged updates in Austin and later rounds.
• Ferrari are second on 444 points, more than 100 clear of both teams.

FAQ

Q: How many points separate McLaren and Red Bull? McLaren have 339 points and Red Bull 332, a gap of seven points after 17 of 23 rounds.

Q: When is the United States Grand Prix? The race is on Sunday 25 October at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Practice and qualifying take place on Friday and Saturday, and there is no sprint.

Q: Can Ferrari be caught for second place? Ferrari have 444 points, 105 more than McLaren and 112 more than Red Bull, so second looks secure for now, although six rounds remain.

Sources: Formula1.com, Grande Premio, RacingNews365, Wikipedia, GRANDPRIX247