Mercedes has a simple explanation for why McLaren can't extract the same performance from its customer power unit: the papaya squad isn't spending enough on simulation tools and isn't in the decision-making loop. Deputy team principal Bradley Lord says it's not favoritism—it's intellectual property logistics. McLaren gets configurations from Mercedes HPP but sits outside the core development process, learning what it's got without time to optimize. Technical director Mark Temple confirmed McLaren is "out of the main loop," working with a customer support team while the factory squad runs the show. The gap is real: McLaren trails by 159 points after crushing Mercedes by 364 last year. McLaren's building a dedicated PU performance team to close the deficit, but the fundamental customer disadvantage won't disappear. If you're paying for someone else's engine in 2026's complex era, you're starting a step behind—no matter how good the hardware is.
Read the full story at The RaceJUST SPEND MORE? MERCEDES' INTRIGUING THEORY FOR MCLAREN'S PU DEFICIT
Mercedes has a simple explanation for why McLaren can't extract the same performance from its customer power unit: the papaya squad isn't spending enough on simulation tools and isn't in the decision-making loop. Deputy team principal Bradley Lord says it's not favoritism—it's intellectual property logistics. McLaren gets configurations from Mercedes HPP but sits outside the core development process, learning what it's got without time to optimize. Technical director Mark Temple confirmed McLaren is "out of the main loop," working with a customer support team while the factory squad runs the show. The gap is real: McLaren trails by 159 points after crushing Mercedes by 364 last year. McLaren's building a dedicated PU performance team to close the deficit, but the fundamental customer disadvantage won't disappear. If you're paying for someone else's engine in 2026's complex era, you're starting a step behind—no matter how good the hardware is.
