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McLaren provide Chinese GP update amid frustrations with Mercedes engine supply

Photo: Race Pictures

16:30, 10 Mar

byHenry Eccles

McLaren have looked ahead to this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix, after the papaya team raised concerns over how Mercedes was supplying their 2026 power unit.

Speaking to the media, including GPblog, after the Australian GP, team principal Andrea Stella said he felt McLaren were "on the back foot" for the first time ever as a Mercedes engine customer.

The Italian added that the Woking team have been 'reacting' to the capabilities of their power unit, suggesting that Mercedes have not been totally transparent with the technicalities, saying: "That’s not how you work in Formula One."

McLaren 'working hard' to exploit Mercedes engine performance

Photo: Race Pictures

In a press release previewing the upcoming race in Shanghai, McLaren's Technical Director - Engineering, Neil Houldey, provided an update on the team's learnings from Melbourne, adding they have "regrouped" as a team and with Mercedes High Performance Powertrains (HPP) to put McLaren in a "strong competitive position."

Houldey said: “We have gathered and analysed lots of data across multiple areas since the MCL40 first took to track in January’s shakedown, and last weekend’s first race of the season in Australia provided the team with further valuable information as we continue our journey of development and learning under the new regulations.

“To see the car in various scenarios under racing conditions for the first time was a good opportunity for new knowledge progression, and we understand that there is still a lot to do as we continue to work hard to further exploit the performance of the power unit while also putting additional focus on areas such as improving grip in corners."

Houldey also explained how McLaren are still a few races away from bringing major upgrades, before looking more closely at the Chinese GP.

"The next few races will continue to see this focus in place as we look to extract the maximum performance from our current configuration.

"There is a lot of effort by the team, both trackside and in Woking, to develop the car, but we are aware that this will take a few more races to be in a position to bring any major upgrades to track.

“Therefore, going into this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, we have collectively taken all of our learnings from Melbourne and regrouped as a team together with our HPP partners to make sure that we deliver as much performance as possible to put the team in a strong competitive position for opportunities in both Saturday’s Sprint Race and Sunday’s Grand Prix.”

Stella predicts battery impact at Chinese GP after Melbourne chaos

Meanwhile, team boss Stella has has spoken about how and to what extent energy deployment will be a factor at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Speaking to GPblog after the race in Australia, Stella said China should represent a step closer to a more "traditional" form of racing and one less dependent on the battery.

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