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RacingNews365·October 18, 2026
McLaren reassured by 'ping-pong' game as Red Bull closes in
A tightening fight
Red Bull was around three-tenths of a second faster than McLaren at Singapore, helping it score 34 points compared with McLaren’s 23. That result reduced McLaren’s advantage to seven points after 17 rounds.
Small gains matter
Stella views the season as a series of swings in which a single upgrade can change the competitive order. That perspective offers McLaren reassurance, but it also underscores how little margin remains.
Late-season test
The final races will test whether McLaren can respond technically before Red Bull completes its climb. The defending champion needs to convert development progress into stronger results from both cars.