Sam Bird says wind tunnel limits could derail McLaren’s 2026 plans

McLaren won both the Drivers' Championship and the constructors' title this season and will have less wind tunnel time than anyone else at the start of 2026.

The British team will have just 70% of the available wind tunnel hours next season, with additional hours allocated on a sliding scale—each team receiving 5% more based on this year’s Constructors’ Championship standings.

Bird feels that this disadvantage may give McLaren some problems, particularly as new rules are being introduced next year.

He told the F1 Chequered Flag podcast: "I think a lot stems on how this team now moves forwards and focuses their 2026 work, because it's all change and we don't know who's going to be the best yet.

McLaren had the quickest car for much of the 2025 season, winning their second consecutive Constructors' Championship at a canter.

The British team then went on to win their first Drivers' title since 2008, with Lando Norris crowned world champion in Abu Dhabi.

Juan Pablo Montoya feels the McLaren was so dominant that most drivers could have won the title driving it. Read the full story and Montoya's view here.