McLaren is currently investigating the reasons behind its straight-line speed deficit to Mercedes, despite both teams running the same power unit during the 2026 Formula 1® season. The gap on the straights has been estimated at around 0.15 seconds, a figure that raises questions about factors beyond engine performance.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, explained that the overall lap time difference to Mercedes is roughly between 0.3 and 0.4 seconds. Of this, about 70% is attributed to cornering performance, where McLaren’s car generates less downforce compared to the championship-leading Mercedes W17. The remaining 30% of the deficit occurs on the straights, where the cause is less clear.
The straight-line speed disadvantage may stem from higher aerodynamic drag on McLaren’s MCL40 or differences in how the two teams operate the shared Mercedes powertrain. While Mercedes has the advantage of optimising its own power unit, McLaren continues to work closely with Mercedes’ High Performance Powertrains (HPP) division to improve the exploitation of the power unit, including the deployment of electrical energy.
Stella pointed out the difficulty in separating the effects of aerodynamic drag from power unit performance when analysing competitors. McLaren has made progress in optimising energy deployment strategies with support from HPP, but acknowledges that Mercedes likely benefits from lower drag and different gear ratios that contribute to its superior straight-line speed.
The team remains focused on reducing all sources of drag on the MCL40 and enhancing how it utilises the power unit’s capabilities. This ongoing work aims to close the gap on the straights while maintaining competitive cornering speed.
Drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri continue to face the challenge of extracting maximum performance from the car amid these technical differences. Meanwhile, Mercedes and its driver George Russell remain the benchmark in this area of the 2026 championship.
McLaren’s investigation into the straight-line speed deficit highlights the complexities of competing with a shared power unit in Formula 1®. The interplay between aerodynamics, powertrain management, and gear ratios remains a key factor in performance differences between teams.
