McLaren team principal Andrea Stella suspects that Mercedes customer teams have less insight into the power unit than the factory team itself. During the Australian Grand Prix, Mercedes got more out of the same engine, while customer teams like McLaren are still looking for the optimal way to utilize the power unit. According to Stella, there seems to be more potential in the package.
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After a fifth place for Lando Norris – 51 seconds behind winner George Russell – and a retirement for Oscar Piastri – even before the race began – McLaren leaves for China with ten points. Engine supplier Mercedes collected no less than 43 points in Melbourne. Andrea Stella sees that Mercedes is getting much more out of the engine. “When I see what kind of potential High Performance Powertrains (HPP) manages to extract, it seems like there is more available,” Stella notes. According to the McLaren team principal, Mercedes and HPP have discussed extensively how the power unit should be used, as they have been working together for a very long time.
‘Lagging behind’
The Italian team principal suggests that McLaren does not always have all the information to understand the car’s behavior. Normally, the team knows fairly well what the development plans are before the car hits the track. This season feels different. “You make plans on how you are going to develop the car because you know what to expect. This is the first time that we, as a customer team, feel like we are lagging behind,” says Stella.
According to Stella, McLaren has requested more information from HPP several times recently. “That discussion has been going on for weeks, even during testing. We were constantly reacting to what we had, but that’s not how Formula 1 works. Everything is extremely sensitive, because a small adjustment affects the energy,” the Italian concludes. This puts extra pressure on the drivers, he notes. “It becomes important for them to use the battery optimally. In fact, you are driving on the battery.”
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‘Never making everyone happy’
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff understands that teams still need to get used to the new regulations, but emphasizes that an engine supplier cannot satisfy everyone. “When you introduce new rules, there is always a lot to learn. The development curve is very steep. You can never roll everything out in a way that everyone is happy, but we try to provide the best possible service,” Wolff states.
In addition to more clarity about the engine, Stella also hopes that certain aspects of the new regulations will be adjusted. “It’s also about how you drive the car. These kinds of elements are not what drivers are used to. They are asking for improvements and I think there are opportunities to improve the rules.” The Formula 1 wants to collect more data during the first races of the season first. After that, it can be seen whether adjustments are necessary. “The entertainment and the DNA of Formula 1 must be preserved. Ultimately, it should be about maximizing grip and not about maximizing energy use,” Stella notes.
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Read everything here about the Chinese GP
