P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Among the teams expecting to be in title contention in 2026, McLaren is in a unique scenario.
Oscar Piastri has explained that despite having “different priorities”, McLaren’s engine supplier Mercedes is making efforts to optimize the speed of all teams involved.
In 2026, McLaren will be using Mercedes High Performance Powertrains (HPP) engines as a customer, alongside Alpine and Williams, in addition to the works Mercedes team.
During the Barcelona shakedown, Alpine, McLaren, and Mercedes completed 1,134 laps, while Williams did not participate, and both McLaren and Mercedes are aiming for title contention.
McLaren faces a unique situation where they could potentially be competing against their engine supplier for the world championship, with Red Bull, Ferrari, and Aston Martin as other main contenders.
Piastri highlighted the importance of gaining mileage in the power unit’s development stage, despite teams having varying priorities.
He emphasized the need to learn how to maximize the power unit’s performance and adapt to changes in downforce compared to the previous year.
McLaren collaborates with Mercedes HPP to provide valuable feedback and data to improve the power unit’s performance, demonstrating a shared goal to enhance overall competitiveness.
