The Rob Marshall-designed McLaren MCL40 took to the Barcelona Circuit on Wednesday morning during the opening week of the 2026 Formula 1 preseason testing. With dry conditions expected only in the morning before rain arrives, teams sought to maximize their limited track time. McLaren aims to continue its strong performance with the MCL40, widely anticipated to be a leading contender this season due to Marshall’s expertise.
Other Teams Participate as McLaren Joins the Track
After just Red Bull and Ferrari ran on Tuesday, the Wednesday session saw more cars on the circuit, including McLaren, Mercedes, Racing Bulls, Alpine, Haas, and Audi. The testing environment in Barcelona became busier as teams look to fine-tune their machines ahead of the new season. Red Bull has one final day left for running, while Aston Martin’s car, designed by Adrian Newey, is not yet ready for testing.
Marshall’s Role and Team Expectations
Rob Marshall continues to be regarded as one of the top Formula 1 designers, and his work on the MCL40 places McLaren in a promising position for 2026. The ongoing preseason tests in Barcelona are pivotal for teams to evaluate their performance, and McLaren will seek to demonstrate the advantages of its latest design under real track conditions. With multiple established teams participating, the competition looks set to be strong as the season approaches.
