McLaren unusual strategy identified as F1 rivals take different approach

Ted Kravitz has pointed out how McLaren is bucking the pre-season trend of continuously adding new components to its car across the two official tests, ahead of the campaign-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The reigning constructors' champion has equipped the MCL40 at the Bahrain International Circuit with what is expected to be the aerodynamic package it will use in Melbourne.

Oscar Piastri was at the wheel of the new car during the morning session on the first day of running, with Lando Norris in the cockpit across the rest of the afternoon and evening.

The Australian went second fastest in the first four hours of running, setting a lap time one tenth of a second slower than Max Verstappen, who was quickest.

Conversely, most other teams are incrementally adding to their cars across the two three-day tests in the Gulf state, and their packages will likely look considerably different by the time F1 reaches Albert Park in early March.

During the off-season, Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur spoke of running a Spec-A car for the private shakedown in Barcelona, with a view to significant changes in Bahrain and beyond.

The Woking-based squad, on the other hand, is expected to have more consistency across the official pre-season tests and into the opening round of the year.

"McLaren have done something different in that they have waited as late as they could to put what is pretty much the first-race aero package on their car," Kravitz said on Sky Sports F1.

"Then that is what they are going to Melbourne with, whereas others, such as the Mercedes, the Ferrari, the Aston Martin are going to change."

Already, a number of teams have set tails wagging in Bahrain with novel solutions to various areas of the new-for-2026 F1 cars.

Whilst the power unit rules rewrite has dominated headlines, the focus in Sakhir has been on the chassis and aerodynamic elements.

Audi has brought a unique sidepod inlet solution, while Aston Martin continues to draw attention over the team's first Adrian Newey-designed car.

Alpine has taken a different route from most others with its approach to the active aerodynamics on the rear wing, and Red Bull has a prominent vent just behind the cockpit of the RB22, with a drastic bathtub shape to the top of its sidepod.