Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri both sat out the Chinese GP due to separate electrical issues, while the former has had his practice running limited by more problems in Japan, with only 13 laps to his name in FP3.

McLaren's Zak Brown told Sky Sports: "Mercedes HPP are changing it now. It's a battery issue. I haven't been debriefed if it's the same issue (to China), but it certainly is a battery issue."

At the start of the season, McLaren team principal Andrea Stella lamented a lack of collaboration with power unit suppliers Mercedes, but Wolff is adamant that the papaya team's struggles are just unfortunate teething problems.

Speaking to Sky Sports about McLaren's limited practice, Wolff said: "Well, yesterday was a car issue, I believe, that he [Norris} had on hydraulics, and today was an ERS issue.

Wolff was then asked how long Mercedes would be able to hold an advantage over their customer team, who proved in 2023 that they can make rapid improvements to shoot up the grid.

"I think at the beginning, the learning curve is going to be very steep for them. Clearly, the works team advantage is clear in new regulations, but give it some time and then that will adjust itself."

On the other side of the garage, Piastri was involved with the stewards after an incident with Audi's Nico Hulkenberg.

Piastri was weaving across the track to warm up his tyres on the straight between turns 14 and 15 when Hulkenberg approached on a push lap.

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