P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren enter the year looking to defend its double championship success from the 2025 season.
Oscar Piastri has denied that McLaren is at a disadvantage this year by not being a works team, emphasizing their close relationship with Mercedes HPP. McLaren, as a Mercedes customer team, has benefited from this association, despite not having the status of a works team. The upcoming F1 season introduces new technical regulations, including a new power unit, posing challenges for all teams. While acknowledging Mercedes’ impressive performance in testing, Piastri believes McLaren is not necessarily at a disadvantage due to their long-term collaboration with Mercedes HPP. Piastri expressed confidence in McLaren’s preparation and development process, highlighting their experience in integrating new rules into their car. The competitive landscape in Formula 1 this season will be determined by factors like aero testing and organizational readiness, with Mercedes setting a high standard during testing by consistently achieving over 150 laps per day in Barcelona.
