With wholesale regulation changes sweeping into the sport in 2026, having more wind tunnel time could be the difference between just winning a few races and championship success, as the teams scramble to improve their initial packages after the first race of 2026.

McLaren have won 11 of 14 races, racked up seven 1-2 finishes, claimed eight pole positions and have expertly managed a potentially fractious intra-team rivalry between championship protagonists Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

Lewis Hamilton has projected a positive stance on the forthcoming Formula 1 regulations in 2026, describing the change as "fascinating".