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[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
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about 16 hours ago
[SPORTS] 2 sourcesMcLaren F1 team faces performance slump as Oscar Piastri struggles in 2026McLaren’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.
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8 days ago
[SPORTS] 27 sourcesLando Norris says Formula One has become a business, not a sport, before Hungarian Grand PrixLando 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.
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11 days ago
[SPORTS] 17 sourcesMcLaren drivers slam 2026 F1 power‑unit rules after Belgian GPMcLaren’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.
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14 days ago
[SPORTS] 3 sourcesValentino Rossi lauds Lando Norris after F1 championship at GoodwoodValentino 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.
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14 days ago
[SPORTS] 3 sourcesHydraulic Leak Hampers Oscar Piastri’s Pace at Belgian Grand PrixA 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.
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14 days ago
[SPORTS] 26 sourcesLando Norris faces 10‑place grid penalty at Belgian Grand PrixLando 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.
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16 days ago
[SPORTS] 64 sourcesLando Norris to serve 10‑place grid penalty at Belgian GPLando 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.
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18 days ago
[SPORTS] 6 sourcesCharles Leclerc secures surprise Ferrari win at SilverstoneCharles 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.
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19 days ago
[SPORTS] 10 sourcesValentino Rossi returns to Goodwood Festival on Yamaha YZR‑M1Valentino Rossi rode his Yamaha YZR‑M1 at Goodwood 2026, sharing the stage with Lando Norris, while Audi and Jaguar unveiled controversial concept cars.
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20 days ago
[SPORTS] 3 sourcesLando Norris says social‑media pressure in F1 was hard to handleLando Norris admits social‑media criticism hurt him during a tough 2025 season, while McLaren's marketing chief stresses a new, digitally‑focused fan strategy.
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21 days ago
[SPORTS] 10 sourcesLando Norris seeks Le Mans partnership with Valentino RossiLando Norris and Valentino Rossi expressed mutual interest in teaming up for Le Mans, with McLaren’s 2027 Hypercar return making a future partnership possible.
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21 days ago
[SPORTS] 3 sourcesLando Norris celebrates 2025 F1 title at Goodwood Festival of SpeedLando 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.
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23 days ago
[SPORTS] 2 sourcesGoodwood Festival of Speed 2026 to feature Lando Norris and Valentino RossiGoodwood 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
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26 days ago
[SPORTS] 5 sourcesOscar Piastri’s front‑wing crash curtails McLaren’s Silverstone raceOscar 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
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27 days ago
[SPORTS] 13 sourcesLawson earns point as stewards warn after Silverstone sprintLawson 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.
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28 days ago
[SPORTS] 7 sourcesMcLaren faces performance shortfall at Silverstone British Grand PrixMcLaren'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 /
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29 days ago
[SPORTS] 3 sourcesOscar Piastri says McLaren's F1 car remains hard to read ahead of British Grand PrixOscar 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.
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about 1 month ago
[SPORTS] 2 sourcesOscar Piastri finishes fourth at Austrian Grand Prix as McLaren seeks overall performance boostOscar 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.
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about 1 month ago
[SPORTS] 14 sourcesMcLaren cleared of penalties following Austrian Grand PrixFIA 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.
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about 1 month ago
[SPORTS] 5 sourcesLando Norris rebukes rivals over Formula 1 upgrade criticismLando 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.
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about 1 month ago
[SPORTS] 3 sourcesOscar Piastri eyes McLaren comeback ahead of Austrian GP after Barcelona testOscar 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.
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about 1 month ago
[SPORTS] 10 sourcesMcLaren delays experimental rear wing test at Austrian Grand Prix, cites development lagMcLaren 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.
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about 1 month ago
[SPORTS] 5 sourcesMcLaren says Barcelona GP highlights limits despite flawless weekendMcLaren 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.
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about 1 month ago
[SPORTS] 2 sourcesOscar Piastri defended by Australian motorsport veterans after criticism from former F1 championsAfter 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
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about 1 month ago
[SPORTS] 2 sourcesMcLaren targets improvement for Austrian GP while Ferrari leads championshipMcLaren 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.
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about 1 month ago
[SPORTS] 2 sourcesLando Norris celebrates 2025 F1 title at Goodwood Festival while warning Ferrari of its paceLando Norris, 2025 F1 champion, will celebrate at Goodwood Festival driving the MCL60, after noting Ferrari’s engine limits earlier in the season.
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about 2 months ago
[SPORTS] 2 sourcesMcLaren's Barcelona GP woes: Norris podiums, Piastri falls behindNorris 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.
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about 2 months ago
[SPORTS] 3 sourcesOscar Piastri claims victory at Barcelona Grand Prix as Max Verstappen receives penaltyOscar 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.
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about 2 months ago
[SPORTS] 5 sourcesMcLaren's Piastri and Norris comment on Barcelona GP pacePiastri 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.
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about 2 months ago
[SPORTS] 2 sourcesOscar Piastri flags McLaren doubts ahead of Barcelona GPOscar 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.
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about 2 months ago
[SPORTS] 2 sourcesLando Norris warns title defence is impossible after Monaco retirementLando 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.
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about 2 months ago
[SPORTS] 4 sourcesLando Norris suffers second retirement at Monaco GP due to Mercedes power‑unit failureLando 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.
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about 2 months ago
[SPORTS] 2 sourcesMcLaren cites technical shortcomings after disappointing Monaco qualifyingMcLaren's poor Monaco qualifying, with Norris eighth and Piastri seventh, stemmed from limited downforce and tyre‑warming issues, confirming pre‑race concerns.
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about 2 months ago
[SPORTS] 4 sourcesLando Norris flags 2026 F1 car issues after Monaco qualifyingLando 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.
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about 2 months ago
[SPORTS] 3 sourcesLando Norris and McLaren Face Confidence Crisis at Monaco Grand PrixLando 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
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about 2 months ago
[SPORTS] 3 sourcesOscar Piastri says McLaren lacks grip, qualifies seventh at Monaco GPOscar 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.
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about 2 months ago
[SPORTS] 6 sourcesMcLaren struggles with car performance and front wing at Monaco Grand PrixMcLaren'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.
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about 2 months ago
[SPORTS] 3 sourcesLando Norris wins Monaco Grand Prix after earlier battery failureLando Norris overcame a battery fault in practice to win the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, leading from the start and holding off Max Verstappen.
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2 months ago
[SPORTS] 13 sourcesMcLaren's tyre gamble at Canadian Grand Prix sparks driver criticismMcLaren’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
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2 months ago
[SPORTS] 6 sourcesMcLaren's tyre gamble hampers Norris and Piastri at Canadian Grand PrixMcLaren'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