McLaren is preparing for the Formula 1 Chinese GP next weekend, focusing on evolution and performance of the Mercedes engine, after a start to the season that exposed some difficulties in the technical relationship with its power unit supplier.
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Team principal Andrea Stella commented on the situation after the Australian GP, highlighting that the team felt at a disadvantage for the first time as a Mercedes customer: “We have been reacting to the capabilities of our power unit, and that is not how you work in Formula 1,” Stella stated, suggesting that not all technical information was fully transparent.
In a statement prior to the race in Shanghai, McLaren’s Engineering Technical Director, Neil Houldey, detailed the team’s work: “We have collected and analyzed a lot of data since the shakedown of the MCL40 in January, and the first race of the season in Australia brought us valuable information for continuous development under the new regulations. Seeing the car in different racing scenarios was an important learning opportunity,” he stated.
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Houldey explained that the upcoming GPs will still be used to better understand the car’s performance before introducing major upgrades: “In the next few races, we will remain focused on extracting maximum performance from the current configuration. There is a lot of effort both on track and in Woking to develop the car, but we know it will take a few races until we are in a position to bring significant updates,” he added.
The director concluded by highlighting the preparation for Shanghai: “Therefore, for the Chinese GP, we have gathered all the lessons from Melbourne and reorganized as a team alongside our partners at HPP-Mercedes, to ensure we deliver the maximum possible performance, putting McLaren in a strong competitive position for both Saturday’s Sprint race and Sunday’s GP,” Houldey concluded.
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