McLaren question Mercedes engine data after heavy Australian Grand Prix defeat
McLaren have expressed frustration over a lack of engine data sharing from Mercedes following a heavy defeat at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
The Woking-based outfit struggled to match the pace of their powertrain suppliers during the first race of Formula 1’s new era.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris could only manage a fifth-place finish at Albert Park after qualifying more than 0.8 seconds off pole.
The British driver ultimately crossed the line a staggering 51 seconds behind race winner George Russell.
Power unit complexities
The updated regulations have introduced a near equal split between internal combustion and electrical power.
This significant rule change has placed a premium on energy recovery systems and complex software management.
While manufacturers must supply identical hardware to customer teams, they are not obligated to share exploitation data.
This regulatory loophole appears to have handed the Mercedes works team a massive early advantage.
Stella demands answers
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella highlighted severe deficits on the GPS overlays during the weekend.
The Italian boss noted his cars were losing significant lap time between Turn Six and Turn Nine due to inferior energy deployment.
“We remain a little puzzled by the difference we see in the data between the speed of our car and the speed of other cars using the same power unit.”
“The discussion with HPP about having more information has been going on for weeks.”
Adapting to a chaotic new era
Stella added that his engineers have been forced into a reactive approach, analysing limited track data rather than having access to comprehensive operational guidelines.
Mercedes dominated the event entirely, securing a commanding one-two finish as rookie Kimi Antonelli followed Russell home.
Ferrari completed the podium through Charles Leclerc, leaving the previous constructors’ champions scrambling for answers.
Norris previously described driving the latest generation of cars as chaotic, warning that the steep learning curve could lead to major accidents.
