McLaren Racing, led by team principal Andrea Stella, has pinpointed two primary reasons for their disappointing start to the 2026 Formula 1 season. The team has faced significant challenges, including three Did Not Starts (DNS) in the first three races, largely due to reliability issues with the Mercedes power unit. Stella noted that it took longer than expected to fully harness the potential of the power unit, which hampered their performance and learning curve. Additionally, the design phase of the MCL40 was compromised as the team continued to compete for the championship until the final race of 2025. As a result, rivals like Mercedes and Ferrari were better prepared for the season. Despite these setbacks, McLaren showed signs of improvement when Oscar Piastri finished second in Japan. Looking ahead, the team plans to introduce upgrades in two phases, with the first set expected to debut in Miami and the second in Canada. This four-week break in the calendar offers McLaren a chance to maximize their development efforts.