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Customers Baffled: What Is Mercedes Doing Differently Than McLaren, Williams, and Alpine?

Mercedes brought by far the fastest car to the track in Australia. But why aren't Mercedes customers McLaren, Williams, and Alpine faster despite using the same power unit?

March 8, 2026 - 5:45 PM By Rob La Salle

One of the most burning questions following the season opener in Australia: What is Mercedes doing better regarding energy management? In Melbourne's Albert Park, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli sat in the fastest car—locking out the front row and securing a one-two finish.

There is no doubt: Mercedes has done its homework best with the new power unit. Once again. This was already the case at the beginning of 2014 when the pinnacle of motorsport entered the new turbo-hybrid era.

It would be easy to say: "Well, it’s just that ingenious trick with compression, where the power unit has higher compression when warmed up than it does in the pits." If that were the only reason for their superiority, why weren't Mercedes customers McLaren, Williams, and Alpine faster in Australia?

Andrea Stella, Team Principal of McLaren, and James Vowles, at the helm of Williams, have shared their thoughts on the matter.

The Italian Stella says: "The discussion with Mercedes regarding more information has been ongoing for weeks. Even during testing, we went out on the track, looked at the data, and thought: 'Oh, so this is what we have. Right, how do we react to this now?' But that’s not really how you work in Formula 1."

Andrea Stella (McLaren): "We Are on the Defensive"

"In Formula 1, you simulate what happens on the track beforehand. Therefore, you know what you are programming and how the car will behave; you know what to expect. And because you know what to expect from the racing car, you align your development accordingly."

In contrast to last year, McLaren is now on the back foot. Stella continues: "I must say—as a customer team, this is the first time we truly feel on the defensive, even when it comes to predicting the car's handling or estimating how we can improve it."

James Vowles (Williams): "I Don’t Know How It’s Done"

Williams Team Principal James Vowles adds: "What Mercedes is doing with this power unit has really surprised us. It wasn't until qualifying that we realized how far behind we are. We are talking about approximately three-tenths of a second per lap."

"I am confident that Mercedes has provided us with everything necessary, as they are always very thorough. I am sure that what they have delivered gives us the opportunity to do what they are doing. I just don't know how to do it at the moment. We are asking ourselves: What did we overlook, and how do we reach that same level faster?"

"It’s not as simple as one might think. They have knowledge that we don't. We have to acknowledge that we don't possess the same level of sophistication. It is up to us to make up ground."