P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lando Norris has a clear request for Mercedes HPP after the first Bahrain pre-season test.
Lando Norris is aiming for increased energy efficiency from his Mercedes HPP F1 power unit, following the impressive performance of the Red Bull Powertrains.
The RBPT engine drew attention during testing in Bahrain, leading Toto Wolff to acknowledge that Mercedes HPP may not match the energy efficiency of the new RBPT engine.
Red Bull has been hailed as the “benchmark,” with George Russell highlighting the stark contrast in GPS data between Red Bull’s engine and his own Mercedes unit.
Norris and Russell are among the eight drivers using Mercedes HPP engines in 2026, with the World Champion emphasizing the need for improvements in deployment and battery efficiency.
While acknowledging the challenges, Norris remains focused on enhancing the power unit’s overall efficiency and learning from Red Bull’s success in this area.
Despite recognizing areas for improvement for both McLaren and Mercedes HPP, Norris admits that Red Bull’s current advantage in energy efficiency sets them apart in the competition.
