McLaren is listed as using the MCL40 chassis in the 2026 Formula One season.
The MCL40 is McLaren’s 2026 Formula One car, succeeding the MCL39 from 2025. Its name follows McLaren’s modern chassis-numbering tradition, with “MCL” referring to McLaren and the number marking the model’s place in the sequence.
The change from MCL39 to MCL40 coincides with Formula One’s major 2026 technical overhaul. The new rules affect aerodynamics, car dimensions, and power units, including a larger electrical contribution to propulsion. That makes the MCL40 more than a routine yearly update.
A common mix-up is the MCL39, which was McLaren’s 2025 car and carried Lando Norris to the 2025 Drivers’ Championship. The MCL60 was the team’s 2023 car, while MP4-31 belongs to McLaren’s earlier naming era.