Norris addresses Mercedes engine info sharing with customer teams

Lando Norris has downplayed suggestions of Mercedes withholding crucial information from its customer teams, attributing early-season performance gaps to normal development processes and the need for teams to find their own competitive advantages. The McLaren driver emphasized the strong existing partnership with Mercedes HPP while acknowledging that each team must independently master the new power unit.

Why it matters:

The dynamic between a works team and its customers is a perennial topic in Formula 1, with implications for the competitive balance. Norris's comments provide a measured insider perspective, suggesting that while collaboration exists, ultimate success hinges on a team's own ability to develop and optimize its package, especially with a new power unit regulation cycle on the horizon.

The details:

• Norris described the relationship with Mercedes HPP as historically close and productive, having been fundamental to McLaren's recent championship successes.
• He stated it is "certainly not" the case that information sharing has never happened, countering speculation of deliberate withholding.
• The British driver explained that natural competitive instincts mean "certain things aren’t necessarily shared, because you always try to create your own advantages."
• A significant portion of the challenge is internal: Norris pointed out that McLaren needs to "figure things out earlier" and maximize data analysis themselves to improve performance.
• He noted that regulatory boundaries on what can be shared are handled by Team Principal Andrea Stella and the engineering team, framing it as a standard procedural matter rather than a conflict.

What's next:

The focus for McLaren is clear: accelerate their own learning curve with the Mercedes power unit. Norris concluded that the team's priority is to be "more prepared," moving away from feeling on the back foot. As the season progresses, the performance trajectory of Mercedes' customer teams—particularly McLaren's ability to close any gap to the works squad—will be a key indicator of how effectively they have adapted to the new engine package and optimized their collaboration within the regulatory framework.