< Back to situations

We’ll email you as it develops, and you can follow the whole thread from day one.

[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]

40 clusters · 152 sources · 69 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: SPORTS

McLaren 2026 F1 performance amid power‑unit criticism

Entities: Oscar Piastri · Lando Norris · Andrea Stella · McLaren F1 Team

Overview

McLaren’s 2026 campaign continues to be hampered by the new hybrid power‑unit architecture. After the Belgian Grand Prix, both drivers blasted the computer‑controlled energy‑deployment system, saying it makes qualifying grids dependent on software behaviour rather than driver skill. Team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged that the self‑learning algorithm can mis‑calibrate lap‑by‑lap, leaving insufficient battery charge for long straights. Norris finished sixth despite a prolonged pit‑stop issue, while Piastri recovered to fifth despite reduced down‑force and erratic battery management. Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix the team introduced its most extensive upgrade package of the season – a new flat floor, assorted aerodynamic tweaks and a rear wing dubbed “Macarena”. Norris expressed cautious optimism, noting past upgrades have not always delivered, and reiterated his objection to a rule that caps energy recovery when lifting off the throttle above roughly 210 km/h, calling it “absurd” and suggesting commercial motives dominate the rule‑making. Piastri ran the older‑spec car in practice to benchmark the new parts, confirming McLaren’s testing approach. During the Hungarian weekend Norris warned that Formula One is being run as a profit‑driven business rather than a sport, linking the 50 % ICE‑electric split to reduced driver influence and a fan focus on personalities, a shift he attributed in part to the Netflix series *Drive to Survive*. The team’s upgrades were rolled out but the on‑track effect remained to be seen. By the end of July the team’s performance had slipped further. Technical director Andrea Stella said Piastri is still adapting to the low‑grip 2026 cars, accounting for irregular results and a gearbox failure that forced his retirement in Hungary. Reliability problems have caused both drivers to retire in more than half of the eleven races so far, leaving McLaren behind Mercedes and Ferrari in the constructors’ fight.

Timeline

  1. about 16 hours ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    McLaren F1 team faces performance slump as Oscar Piastri struggles in 2026

    McLaren’s Oscar Piastri struggles to adapt to 2026 cars, while teammate Lando Norris cites rivalry as a boost; the team trails Mercedes and Ferrari amid reliability woes.

  2. 8 days ago

    [SPORTS] 27 sources
    Lando Norris says Formula One has become a business, not a sport, before Hungarian Grand Prix

    Lando Norris says Formula One is being run as a business, not a sport, before the Hungarian GP, and McLaren rolls out a major upgrade package with cautious optimism.

  3. 11 days ago

    [SPORTS] 17 sources
    McLaren drivers slam 2026 F1 power‑unit rules after Belgian GP

    McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris criticised the 2026 F1 power‑unit rules after Spa, saying computer‑controlled energy deployment makes qualifying unfair and leaves drivers with too little control.

  4. 14 days ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Valentino Rossi lauds Lando Norris after F1 championship at Goodwood

    Valentino Rossi praised Lando Norris’s 2025 F1 title at Goodwood, noting his pride, the yellow‑army fans and saying he’d never want to fight Max Verstappen.

  5. 14 days ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Hydraulic Leak Hampers Oscar Piastri’s Pace at Belgian Grand Prix

    A hydraulic leak forced Oscar Piastri’s McLaren into the garage, cutting his Spa practice time and leaving him seventh (promoted to sixth) in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix.

  6. 14 days ago

    [SPORTS] 26 sources
    Lando Norris faces 10‑place grid penalty at Belgian Grand Prix

    Lando Norris qualified third for the Belgian GP but a ten‑place grid penalty for a power‑unit change forces a mid‑field start; he vows to attack on the opening lap and recover positions.

  7. 16 days ago

    [SPORTS] 64 sources
    Lando Norris to serve 10‑place grid penalty at Belgian GP

    Lando Norris will start the Belgian GP from tenth place after McLaren fitted a fourth power‑electronics unit, exceeding the FIA limit; the team chose Spa for the penalty because overtaking is easier.

  8. 18 days ago

    [SPORTS] 6 sources
    Charles Leclerc secures surprise Ferrari win at Silverstone

    Charles Leclerc wins the British Grand Prix for Ferrari, while Oscar Piastri says changing conditions at Silverstone exposed McLaren’s MCL40 weaknesses, prompting a development push.

  9. 19 days ago

    [SPORTS] 10 sources
    Valentino Rossi returns to Goodwood Festival on Yamaha YZR‑M1

    Valentino Rossi rode his Yamaha YZR‑M1 at Goodwood 2026, sharing the stage with Lando Norris, while Audi and Jaguar unveiled controversial concept cars.

  10. 20 days ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Lando Norris says social‑media pressure in F1 was hard to handle

    Lando Norris admits social‑media criticism hurt him during a tough 2025 season, while McLaren's marketing chief stresses a new, digitally‑focused fan strategy.

  11. 21 days ago

    [SPORTS] 10 sources
    Lando Norris seeks Le Mans partnership with Valentino Rossi

    Lando Norris and Valentino Rossi expressed mutual interest in teaming up for Le Mans, with McLaren’s 2027 Hypercar return making a future partnership possible.

  12. 21 days ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Lando Norris celebrates 2025 F1 title at Goodwood Festival of Speed

    Lando Norris drove McLaren’s MCL60 at Goodwood Festival of Speed, celebrated his 2025 title, and helped debut the MCL‑HY hypercar amid historic McLaren exhibits.

  13. 23 days ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026 to feature Lando Norris and Valentino Rossi

    Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026 (July 9‑12, West Sussex) will spotlight F1 champion Lando Norris and MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi under the 'The Rivals' theme, featuring hill‑climb runs and historic and modern

  14. 26 days ago

    [SPORTS] 5 sources
    Oscar Piastri’s front‑wing crash curtails McLaren’s Silverstone race

    Oscar Piastri suffered front‑wing damage on Silverstone’s opening lap, finished 11th, and called the start a “multi‑class” chaos caused by varied hybrid power use; McLaren criticised its pace despite Lando Norr

  15. 27 days ago

    [SPORTS] 13 sources
    Lawson earns point as stewards warn after Silverstone sprint

    Lawson earned a point after an eighth‑place sprint finish at Silverstone, receiving a warning for a defensive move. Gasly and Stroll each got grid penalties after qualifying, reshaping the race start.

  16. 28 days ago

    [SPORTS] 7 sources
    McLaren faces performance shortfall at Silverstone British Grand Prix

    McLaren's Silverstone weekend saw Norris third in the sprint, sixth in qualifying and fourth in the race as the team blamed aerodynamic, power‑unit and brake issues, urging rapid development to catch Ferrari /

  17. 29 days ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Oscar Piastri says McLaren's F1 car remains hard to read ahead of British Grand Prix

    Oscar Piastri says McLaren's 2026 car is hard to read; after a practice spin he qualified P7 in Silverstone Sprint Qualifying, and the team aims to improve for the main race.

  18. about 1 month ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Oscar Piastri finishes fourth at Austrian Grand Prix as McLaren seeks overall performance boost

    Oscar Piastri placed fourth at the Austrian Grand Prix, prompting McLaren manager Andrea Stella to stress the need for overall performance gains and tyre‑wear adaptation.

  19. about 1 month ago

    [SPORTS] 14 sources
    McLaren cleared of penalties following Austrian Grand Prix

    FIA stewards cleared McLaren’s Liam Lawson and Oscar Piastri of penalties after the Austrian GP; Lawson finished ninth, Piastri fourth, with the team noting steady progress.

  20. about 1 month ago

    [SPORTS] 5 sources
    Lando Norris rebukes rivals over Formula 1 upgrade criticism

    Lando Norris criticised fellow F1 drivers, especially Fernando Alonso, for questioning team upgrades under the budget cap, stressing that multiple developments are needed to close the performance gap.

  21. about 1 month ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Oscar Piastri eyes McLaren comeback ahead of Austrian GP after Barcelona test

    Oscar Piastri remains hopeful for McLaren as the team seeks upgrades before the hot Austrian GP, after a mixed showing in Barcelona and ongoing reliability woes.

  22. about 1 month ago

    [SPORTS] 10 sources
    McLaren delays experimental rear wing test at Austrian Grand Prix, cites development lag

    McLaren shelved its experimental rear wing at the Austrian GP after failed tests, delaying its debut until after the British Grand Prix. Lando Norris said the team is two‑three months behind rivals.

  23. about 1 month ago

    [SPORTS] 5 sources
    McLaren says Barcelona GP highlights limits despite flawless weekend

    McLaren admits strategic and technical limits after a clean but third‑place finish at Barcelona, citing grip, energy‑recovery issues and the need for season‑long reliability.

  24. about 1 month ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Oscar Piastri defended by Australian motorsport veterans after criticism from former F1 champions

    After a fifth‑place finish in Spain, Oscar Piastri faced criticism from Nico Rosberg and Jacques Villeneuve, prompting Australian legends James Courtney and Garth Tander to defend him, citing McLaren's car woes

  25. about 1 month ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    McLaren targets improvement for Austrian GP while Ferrari leads championship

    McLaren chief Andrea Stella says the team must boost aerodynamics and tyre grip after Barcelona, aiming to close the gap to Ferrari ahead of the Austrian GP, where Ferrari's chassis currently leads.

  26. about 1 month ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Lando Norris celebrates 2025 F1 title at Goodwood Festival while warning Ferrari of its pace

    Lando Norris, 2025 F1 champion, will celebrate at Goodwood Festival driving the MCL60, after noting Ferrari’s engine limits earlier in the season.

  27. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    McLaren's Barcelona GP woes: Norris podiums, Piastri falls behind

    Norris podiumed in Barcelona while saying McLaren lags behind Ferrari and Mercedes; Piastri admitted he cannot match Norris’s pace, citing car limits and a performance dip.

  28. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Oscar Piastri claims victory at Barcelona Grand Prix as Max Verstappen receives penalty

    Oscar Piastri won the Barcelona Grand Prix, extending his championship lead, while Max Verstappen received a 10‑second penalty for a collision and fell to tenth; McLaren teammate Lando Norris finished second.

  29. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 5 sources
    McLaren's Piastri and Norris comment on Barcelona GP pace

    Piastri and Norris discussed McLaren's pace issues and improvements after Barcelona GP, with Piastri lacking grip and Norris noting progress but still off pole pace.

  30. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Oscar Piastri flags McLaren doubts ahead of Barcelona GP

    Oscar Piastri says McLaren still lacks answers after Monaco and Canada, sees Mercedes and Ferrari stronger over race distance, and warns the FIA penalty reversal could set a risky precedent before Barcelona GP.

  31. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Lando Norris warns title defence is impossible after Monaco retirement

    Lando Norris retired from Monaco due to a Mercedes‑powered failure, saying reliability issues make his 2026 title defence “impossible” and leaving him 98 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli.

  32. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 4 sources
    Lando Norris suffers second retirement at Monaco GP due to Mercedes power‑unit failure

    Lando Norris retired from the Monaco Grand Prix after a Mercedes power‑unit failure, marking a second consecutive race ending in mechanical trouble and leaving him 98 points off the championship lead.

  33. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    McLaren cites technical shortcomings after disappointing Monaco qualifying

    McLaren's poor Monaco qualifying, with Norris eighth and Piastri seventh, stemmed from limited downforce and tyre‑warming issues, confirming pre‑race concerns.

  34. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 4 sources
    Lando Norris flags 2026 F1 car issues after Monaco qualifying

    Lando Norris said Monaco qualifying revealed the 2026 McLaren car is hard to drive and requires constant dashboard monitoring, raising safety concerns as the team remains third in the championship.

  35. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Lando Norris and McLaren Face Confidence Crisis at Monaco Grand Prix

    Lando Norris qualified eighth for the Monaco GP, citing a confidence drop to 85 and describing the McLaren MCL40 as difficult to drive with front‑end grip problems; teammate Oscar Piastri also started from the

  36. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Oscar Piastri says McLaren lacks grip, qualifies seventh at Monaco GP

    Oscar Piastri qualified seventh at Monaco, blaming McLaren’s lack of grip and limited options to improve pace, while teammate Norris faced a practice battery failure.

  37. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 6 sources
    McLaren struggles with car performance and front wing at Monaco Grand Prix

    McLaren's Monaco GP effort was hampered by downforce loss and a new front wing, leaving Norris to retire and Piastri to finish fourth after strategic gains.

  38. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Lando Norris wins Monaco Grand Prix after earlier battery failure

    Lando Norris overcame a battery fault in practice to win the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, leading from the start and holding off Max Verstappen.

  39. 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 13 sources
    McLaren's tyre gamble at Canadian Grand Prix sparks driver criticism

    McLaren’s decision to start both cars on intermediate tyres at the Canadian GP backfired as the track dried, forcing early pit stops; Piastri said the team “looked like idiots,” while team principal Andrea Stel

  40. 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 6 sources
    McLaren's tyre gamble hampers Norris and Piastri at Canadian Grand Prix

    McLaren's choice of intermediate tyres for Norris and Piastri at the Canadian GP backfired, leading to an early pit stop, a retirement and a modest 11th‑place finish, with the drivers calling the move a mistake

Sources

24sata.hr · 365.com.mk · ajansspor.com · apartheidmonitor.palestine-studies.org · archysport.com · as.ro · assodigitale.it · atgs.ch · ausgolf.com.au · auto-moto.com · autoaction.com.au · autocar.co.nz · autogear.pt · autohebdo.fr · autoracing.com.br · autosport.com · autosport.pt · barbaraganz.blog.ilsole24ore.com · businessupturn.com · ca.sports.yahoo.com · caranddriver.es · casa-dolce.com · chinaqw.com · clubs1.bg · colorvision.com.do · consumeradvocates.org · cosenzapage.it · crash.net · cuestionentrerriana.com.ar · cyprus-mail.com · dailymail.co.uk · deccanchronicle.com · dgabc.com.br · diariomotor.com · diariopanorama.com · eldiario.es · eldiariodemadryn.com · es.motorsport.com · esporte.ig.com.br · estamosaqui.mx · exame.com · exclusiva.com.ar · f1head.nl · f1i.com · f1i.fr · f1journaal.be · f1mania.net · f1maximaal.nl