McLaren MCL40 Black Testing Livery
Defending champions McLaren reveal a stripped-back black pre-season testing livery for the MCL40 but will skip day one of Barcelona shakedown.
McLaren has unveiled an all-black testing livery for the MCL40, though the defending champions confirmed they will not run on the opening day of Barcelona shakedown.
The papaya orange that dominated their 2025 championship-winning campaign has been temporarily replaced by a stripped-back black design for the five-day test. The team announced they will begin running on Wednesday at the earliest.
Andrea Stella explained the delayed start allows final preparations at the factory. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the 2025 title-winning driver pairing, will split testing duties once the car is ready.
The MCL40 represents McLaren's first design under the 2026 regulations, which mandate active aerodynamics, narrower cars, and increased electrification. Stella acknowledged the risk of entering a new formula as reigning champions.
"Past performance is no guarantee," he told reporters last week. "Every team starts fresh with these regulations."
McLaren's full 2026 livery will be revealed at a launch event in Bahrain on February 9, two weeks before the official pre-season test at the same circuit.
Why the delay matters
Skipping the opening day of a shakedown hints at a late build or a cautious validation plan. In a regulation reset, every early kilometer helps teams confirm correlation between simulation and track data. That makes any missed mileage feel more consequential, even if the team believes the extra factory time will pay off.
What to watch in Bahrain
Look for long-run consistency and how quickly the MCL40 moves into sustained race-length stints. If McLaren can hit stable runs early in Bahrain, concerns about the delayed Barcelona start will fade quickly.
The team's confidence will be measured by how much setup experimentation it can fit into the test window. A car that responds to changes quickly is usually a sign of a healthy baseline, which matters more than outright lap time in the first week.
Sources
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