McLaren nailed the tire calls at Interlagos, and Lando Norris delivered their first win since summer. Team Principal Andrea Stella credited cold track temperatures for bringing the MCL40 into its window — conditions that let them manage tire temps better than anyone else when it mattered.
The race rewarded adaptability. Early on, drivers who could generate heat quickly (Verstappen, Hamilton) gained ground. McLaren struggled at the start but found pace as the stint progressed, with Norris flying on softs before the late switch back to inters. Stella noted different cars excelled at different phases — no one dominated every condition.
Norris's feel for low-grip chaos sealed it. McLaren considered running one set of slicks to the flag but boxed again when rivals showed pace on fresh rubber. The victory validates their Interlagos upgrade package, the first step in a fast-tracked development push toward 2027. After losing ground to rival upgrades post-Hungary, McLaren are back in the win column exactly when they needed momentum.
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