McLaren has officially unveiled digital renders of its new MCL40 Formula 1 car, which will be used to defend its world titles in the 2026 season. The car was shown in a special black and silver testing livery before private testing began in Barcelona.

The Woking-based team dominated last season, securing the constructors’ championship early in Singapore. Lando Norris later sealed the drivers’ title in the Abu Dhabi finale, marking a historic year for McLaren.

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For the Barcelona test, the MCL40 features a unique look that will change before full race testing in Bahrain. The car shows clear design changes, including a visibly lowered nose, ramped sidepods, and a return to a push-rod front suspension system.

McLaren also enters the new era with Mastercard as its title sponsor, which appears more prominently on the testing livery. The team said the final race design will be revealed later.

Team principal Andrea Stella said the 2026 car represents one of the biggest redesigns in Formula 1 history. He explained that the changes include the chassis, power unit, and tyres all at once, something rarely seen before.

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Stella said nearly 20 months of work went into the new car, calling it the most demanding project he has ever been part of. He added that despite being champions, McLaren carries no advantage into 2026.

“Everyone will start from the starting blocks. Everyone will start from zero,” Stella said, highlighting how competitive the new regulations will be.