Piastri says chassis, not engine tweaks, are the bigger hurdle for McLaren ahead of Miami
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri says the latest 2026 engine rule tweaks won’t close the gap with Mercedes – the real shortfall is the chassis and down‑force. The team is targeting major aero upgrades for Miami and Canada to catch up.
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri says the new 2026 power‑unit tweaks won’t close the gap with Mercedes – the bigger issue is the chassis and down‑force. While the FIA’s energy‑management changes aim to level the field, McLaren still lags aerodynamically, making any engine gains marginal.
Why it matters:
- Engine tweaks aim to narrow the gap, but a chassis deficit erases any power‑unit advantage.
- Closing the down‑force gap is vital for McLaren to contend for podiums later this season.
The details:
- The FIA cut qualifying recharge from 8MJ to 7MJ, raised peak power to 350 kW, and capped race‑boost at +150 kW.
- A low‑power start detection system will auto‑deploy MGU‑K on slow starts for safety.
- McLaren has pressed Mercedes HPP for more data and better engine use, and Stella promises an almost entirely new MCL40 aero package for North America.
What's next:
- McLaren will debut a fresh aero package at Miami, with a further upgrade for Canada.
- The team hopes chassis upgrades will let them exploit the refined power‑unit rules and close the down‑force gap.
- If the upgrades work, McLaren could become the strongest Mercedes‑customer team and challenge Red Bull and Ferrari for podiums.
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