Mexico GP upgrade watch: McLaren wait for Brazil as Red Bull's clutch fix slips to 2027

Teams arrive at the Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend with very different development stories. McLaren have confirmed only minor changes for the race, Mercedes are still learning how to unlock their latest package, Ferrari face an altitude test after a promising upgrade in Austin, and Red Bull say their start problems will not be fully cured until next year.

McLaren: little new until Brazil

McLaren left Austin without a podium for a fourth consecutive round, their longest drought since 2023. Lando Norris finished fifth and Oscar Piastri seventh, and both drivers accepted the team currently has the fourth-fastest car.

Team principal Andrea Stella said more upgrades are coming for the 2026 car, but Mexico will see very little new equipment. Parts are planned for Brazil and Las Vegas, with the goal of returning to the podium fight and eventually to wins. Piastri, without a podium since Miami in May, said the updates were working as expected but were not making the car easier to drive. Norris pointed to slow-speed cornering and rear-end grip as the long-standing weakness.

The slump has left McLaren level with Red Bull on 355 points in the constructors' standings, with Red Bull ahead on countback.

Mercedes: widening the window

Mercedes introduced their major upgrade at the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang, where Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished second, after an earlier package in Canada. Both cars ran it in Austin, where Antonelli won from pole while George Russell finished eighth, more than 50 seconds behind.

Toto Wolff said the upgrade was a step in the right direction but needs a very different setup philosophy from the previous car. No new hardware has been announced for Mexico. Instead, the team is reviewing every decision from Antonelli's side of the garage to understand why he struggled on Friday in Austin but was strong on Saturday and Sunday, and to widen the car's operating window.

Ferrari: aero gains meet thin air

Ferrari's final major aerodynamic package of the year, including revised sidepods, debuted in Austin, where Charles Leclerc finished second and Lewis Hamilton fourth. Leclerc said the car feels better and better and believes Ferrari will have a shot at a win before the season ends.

Mexico is a harder test. Practice in Austin suggested Ferrari gained downforce but lost out on the straights, and the circuit's altitude of around 2,200 metres is expected to amplify their power deficit.

Red Bull: start problems here to stay

Red Bull's on-track form is strong, with Max Verstappen on six straight podiums, but starts remain a weakness. Both Verstappen and Isack Hadjar lost places off the line in Austin. Hadjar said the clutch needs a redesign because it is too fragile, and team principal Laurent Mekies agreed the fix will require significant design and hardware changes that will only come in 2027. The team also suffered radio dropouts for a second straight race.

Red Bull did run new parts on Verstappen's car in Austin, shielded from cameras, as they continue to develop the RB22.

Key takeaways

• McLaren bring very little new to Mexico; upgrades are planned for Brazil and Las Vegas.
• Mercedes have no new parts announced and are focused on widening the W17's setup window.
• Ferrari's Austin aero upgrade worked, but Mexico's altitude may expose their power deficit.
• Red Bull say their clutch and start problems need hardware changes in 2027.

FAQ

Q: Are McLaren bringing upgrades to the Mexico City Grand Prix?

Only very little, according to Andrea Stella. The next upgrades are planned for Brazil and Las Vegas.

Q: Why did Russell finish so far behind Antonelli in Austin?

Toto Wolff says the upgraded W17 has a narrow operating window that requires a very different setup, which Antonelli handled better.

Q: Why are Red Bull's starts poor in 2026?

Hadjar says the clutch is too fragile and struggles with temperatures. Red Bull say a full fix needs new hardware next season.

Sources: PlanetF1, RacingNews365, Scuderia Fans, Formula1.com