McLaren call on Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to execute three 'essentials' in Baku

McLaren has identified three non-negotiables for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri heading into this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

It is understood the team will have a significant aerodynamic upgrade on its MCL40s for the Saturday race around the Baku City Circuit, focused on floor and rear-tyre airflow, designed to improve balance on the circuit's long straights.

Explaining the specific technical challenge posed by Baku's layout, where the longest straight on the calendar meets some of the tightest corners, Rob Marshall, the team's chief technical officer & chief designer, said: "Baku is a circuit of extremes, combining the longest straight in Formula 1 with some of the slowest corners, so there are significant compromises to manage.

"Straight mode gives every team greater scope to run a low-drag car on the straights while retaining downforce through the corners, but the challenge remains the same: bring the best design and set-up choices, then execute them cleanly on track.

"We are still learning about these cars at every event, and we have both overperformed and underperformed against our expectations at different races this season."

Highlighting what is specifically required to navigate the Baku track and for Norris and Piastri to keep it clean, Marshall added: "Baku will provide another valuable test of the MCL40 across a very different range of characteristics.

"Energy management and deployment will be particularly important, as will tyre and brake management, with the cars arriving at Turn 1 after the long straight with these areas relatively cold.

"Operationally, there is very little margin for error on a tight street circuit. A small mistake can lead to significant repairs, lost track time and resources being diverted away from performance."

Marshall then notably added: "So confidence, precision and disciplined execution will be essential throughout the weekend."

Piastri discovered how difficult the circuit can be after crashing in qualifying, causing one of an F1 record six red flags in the session, and the race last year.

[Article continues below]

McLaren highlight 'immediate focus'

Marshall's comments reflect the physical demands of Baku's Turn 1 braking zone, where cars decelerate from over 320 km/h to around 120 km/h under heavy braking, a manoeuvre that becomes even trickier with tyres and brakes cooled by the preceding straight.

With McLaren balancing development between its current car and next year's project under regulatory continuity into 2027, Marshall made clear the team's priorities remain firmly on the here and now.

"With regulatory continuity into next season and the competition at the front so close, our motivation to keep developing the car remains high," he said.

"We must balance that with work on next year's car, but our immediate focus is on delivering more performance and fighting for more victories in 2026, while carrying forward everything we learn.

"We expect any of the top four teams to be capable of winning in Baku, with the chasing pack also getting closer, and we hope to be firmly in the fight at the front."