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Ex-McLaren Formula-E Driver Flags Wind Tunnel Handicap for McLaren Ahead of 2026

Sam Bird said McLaren’s 2026 title defense faces a built-in handicap. “They will have less wind tunnel time than everybody else,” he said on the F1 Chequered Flag podcast. As reigning champions, McLaren get just 70% of tunnel hours under F1 rules. With new regulations coming, Bird called that “quite challenging,” despite McLaren shifting focus to 2026 early.