McLaren make critical prediction for 'more difficult' Australian GP

McLaren boss Andrea Stella expects drivers to be "busier" behind the wheel in Melbourne as F1 returns to a "more difficult" setting for the revamped 2026 power unit rules.

Energy management will be a crucial aspect of F1 this year, with harvesting and deployment billed as almost the entire ball game.

Whilst that likely will not be the entire story, there will be significant fluctuations in how challenging recovery and usage will be from circuit to circuit.

After pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit concluded, Stella explained why the six days in Sakhir were an easier proposition than a track like the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which hosted the private shakedown in January.

Speaking to media, including RacingNews365, the Italian said: "I think, in 2026, we will have to look at the characteristics of the circuits, including this feature [energy management], related to how easy it is at a circuit for the power unit requirements.

"So, Barcelona was actually relatively demanding in terms of the balance between the deployment and harvesting.

"In Bahrain, it was relatively easier because you spend enough time braking that basically you do all the harvesting by braking; you don't need to do anything special in terms of lifting off, for instance, in order to add the time at which you harvest your power unit."

Why the Australian Grand Prix will be a challenge

With the paddock now heading to Albert Park, the requirement for lift and coast will return, particularly if the FIA decides not to permit super clipping up to the maximum 350kW recharge from the current 250kW limit.

"Now we go to Australia, and go back to a circuit that will be a bit more difficult," the McLaren team principal added of the power-sensitive track.

"I think we will see that the drivers will be busier, in terms of their driving style, to make sure that the power unit is exploited in terms of harvesting energy and the deployment of energy in a way that is efficient for lap time.

"But then, you have to go racing. And when you have to go racing, you have to defend, you have to attack.

"So one thing we needed to learn is how to use the features available in the power unit, and what kind of new features you need to have available under the driver's control, such that the power unit is not only competitive from a lap time point of view, but also from a raceability point of view — like when you have to compete with your rivals on track."

Despite the complexity of the new regulations, Stella is confident that the Woking-based squad has made progress ahead of the curtain raiser in Melbourne.

The 55-year-old was quick to praise Mercedes, which provides McLaren with power units, for the hard work being done.

"We have learned a lot during testing," he said. "There's been really strong collaboration with HPP [Mercedes High Performance Powertrains].

"We are very grateful for the efforts that HPP have pulled off to make sure that we were making progress every single day.

"But I do see that there's still quite a lot to learn and definitely more work to do in terms of engine control, power unit control and power unit exploitation."