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McLaren F1 star Oscar Piastri has spoken about how being a Mercedes customer team could impact the papaya team’s chances of being at the top of the…
McLaren F1 star Oscar Piastri has shared his thoughts on how McLaren being a Mercedes customer team in 2026 could impact their competitive position in F1.
The upcoming 2026 season will see the introduction of new regulations, including a revamp of power unit rules, with McLaren benefiting from their partnership with Mercedes.
Piastri highlighted the success of Mercedes during the previous regulation changes in 2014 and acknowledged them as favorites to adapt well to the new rules in 2026.
Though there are perks associated with being linked to Mercedes, Piastri also implied potential challenges faced, as witnessed during testing of the MCL40 with a new Mercedes power unit.
Despite the obstacles, McLaren’s close relationship with Mercedes HPP is viewed as advantageous, although Piastri indicated there might be a learning curve to catch up with the experienced Mercedes team.
Both McLaren and Mercedes will be gearing up for the 2026 F1 season, with the first race scheduled for March 8 in Melbourne, Australia.
