Sensational flat rate
That this year would be a Uphill start to the season for McLaren it was already clear in the first weekend of the championship, in Australia. However, no one could imagine the extent of the disaster – also in terms of image – that awaited the World Constructors’ champion team of the last two seasons in Shanghai. In fact, in China neither Lando Norris nor Oscar Piastri were able to start the Grand Prixleaving the papaya team with a handful of flies in their hands and with the obligation to explain what happened.
The team led by Andrea Stella he did it through a press release released after the racewith which he tried to justify the lack of presence of his cars on the grid. The problems that put the two MCL40s out of action were electrical nature; more precisely “two separate electrical faults on the control unit“.
The McLaren press release
“During routine preparations for the race – we read in the note released yesterday by McLaren – a has been identified problem with the electrical system of the control unit of Lando’s car. Despite intensive investigations and hard work in collaboration with our colleagues at HPP (Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains) to resolve the issue, it was not possible to resolve the fault before the start of the race, resulting in Lando missing the start of a Grand Prix for the first time in his eight-year career“.
“In another scenario, after Oscar had lined up on the grid, a another problem with the electrical system of the engine of car number 81 – the document continues – Despite significant work and commitment from the entire team, together with HPP, to find a solution, unfortunately we had no choice but to return the car to the pits before the start of the race.”.
References to the Mercedes power unit
THE explicit references to the Mercedes power unit are significant. In fact, it should not be forgotten how Andrea Stella had publicly requested more support from Brixworth after the Melbourne race, with the aim of gaining a better understanding of these new power units. The problems that emerged in Shanghai suggest that this situation is far from resolved and the fact that McLaren explicitly call your engineer into question he gives away his intention to involve Mercedes at least partially in this flop, while at the same time asking for explanations and help.
“As a team the focus is now on a joint investigation with HPP to understand what lessons to draw from it so that this does not happen again – the statement concludes – as well as on preparations for the third round of the 2026 season at Suzuka, where McLaren Mastercard will try to return stronger than ever.”. The impression is that only a good result in the land of the Rising Sun can bring some serenity back to relations between Woking and Brixworth, which at the moment do not seem idyllic.
