Oscar Piastri Downplays Miami Engine Tweaks as McLaren Targets Massive Chassis Overhaul to Combat Mercedes

Oscar Piastri believes McLaren’s chassis, not the Mercedes engine, is the main hurdle as FIA introduces energy management changes for the 2026 Miami GP.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 5:31 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

Addressing the Competitive Deficit at McLaren

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri has offered a candid assessment of the performance disparity currently separating his team from the dominant Mercedes works outfit. Despite utilizing identical power unit hardware, the reigning world champions have struggled to match the pace of the Silver Arrows throughout the opening four rounds of the 2026 season. Piastri noted that while discussions regarding the "flow of information" from Mercedes High Performance Powertrains (HPP) are ongoing, the fundamental hurdle for the Woking-based squad is a lack of aerodynamic downforce and chassis refinement compared to their engine supplier.

New Regulatory Refinements for Miami

The FIA has introduced a series of technical directives ahead of the Miami Grand Prix to address erratic energy management behavior observed in the first three races of the 2026 era. Key adjustments include a reduction in the maximum permitted energy recharge during qualifying from 8MJ to 7MJ, alongside an increase in peak "super clip" power to 350 kW. These changes are intended to reduce the frequency of "lift and coast" tactics on straights, which had previously created dangerous speed differentials. For the race itself, boost power will be capped at 150 kW, with MGU-K deployment restricted to 250 kW outside of primary acceleration zones.

Concerns Over Power Unit Data Transparency

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has voiced concerns regarding the team's ability to predict the behavior of the new 50/50 hybrid power units. Stella indicated that the team has been "on the back foot" due to a lag in receiving critical energy deployment data from HPP, which has hampered their ability to optimize the car’s software. This lack of transparency has led to a proactive dialogue with Mercedes to ensure McLaren can extract the same potential that the works team has clearly mastered. According to Stella, the discrepancy suggests that Mercedes currently holds a much deeper understanding of the power unit's operating envelope.