McLaren criticizes Mercedes over data gap after disappointing Australian GP

Monday 09 March 2026 - 12:20

By: Dakir Madiha

McLaren criticizes Mercedes over data gap after disappointing Australian GP

McLaren has accused Mercedes of failing to provide sufficient technical information after a disappointing start to the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Australian Grand Prix, where Lando Norris finished fifth more than 51 seconds behind race winner George Russell.

The result exposed the scale of the challenge facing the Woking based team under Formula 1’s new 2026 technical regulations. Mercedes delivered a dominant performance in Melbourne, securing a one two finish that signaled the team’s return to the front of the grid.

Russell converted his pole position into victory with a time of 1:23:06.801. His teammate Kimi Antonelli crossed the line 2.974 seconds behind in second place. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished third ahead of Lewis Hamilton in fourth, while Norris trailed the leaders in fifth place at 51.741 seconds. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen recovered from 20th on the grid to finish sixth after a crash during qualifying.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella criticized Mercedes High Performance Powertrains, the engine supplier for the team, saying the lack of detailed information on energy deployment had hindered McLaren’s preparation for weeks.

Stella said the team repeatedly had to analyze performance only after running the car on track rather than being able to anticipate behavior through shared data. He described the situation as unusual for a Formula 1 partnership.

“This is the first time we have felt caught off guard, even in terms of predicting the car’s behavior and understanding how we can improve it,” Stella said in comments reported by GPblog.

McLaren’s weekend was further complicated by a crash involving Oscar Piastri before the race even began. The Australian driver lost control during reconnaissance laps when his car experienced an unexpected surge in power while crossing a kerb, sending the car into the barriers and ending his home race before the start.

Piastri said the power increase was significantly stronger than what he had experienced during qualifying on the same section of track.

Norris, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, also expressed frustration with the performance of the new cars, saying they were more difficult to manage in race conditions than during qualifying sessions.

“It’s obvious we are very far from the cars ahead,” Norris told reporters. He added that the team had learned valuable lessons during the race despite the disappointing result.

The 2026 regulations have significantly reshaped Formula 1 power units, with energy output now split almost evenly between internal combustion engines and electric systems. Battery deployment strategy has therefore become a crucial factor in overall performance.

While Mercedes appears to have adapted effectively to the new technical framework, McLaren faces multiple challenges beyond engine performance. Stella acknowledged that the team also lacks aerodynamic downforce and has been experiencing heavier front tire graining compared with its rivals.

With the next race approaching, McLaren must address several performance gaps if it hopes to defend its constructors’ championship under the new regulatory era.