This Sunday, July 21, 2026, Oscar Piastri, who started sixth and finished fifth in the Belgian GP, expressed dissatisfaction with his performance, especially in Saturday’s qualifying, where Lando Norris, his teammate, obtained the third best lap. After Kimi Antonelli’s victory in the race, both McLaren drivers revealed the challenges faced in the current season’s qualifying sessions, attributing the difficulties to the new Formula 1 engine.
“It’s unfortunate, there’s no other way to express it,” said Piastri. He added that he was not alone in feeling this way, mentioning that Mercedes’ George Russell faced similar difficulties this and recent weekends, a scenario echoed by other competitors. The McLaren driver criticized the dynamics of competing when “the grid is determined by computer systems that do not always operate correctly.”
“The situation gets worse on circuits like this, but the reality is that, after a qualifying session, when analyzing the corners, the feeling is that you are on the same level as your team partner, but you are still two tenths behind,” explained the Australian.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella clarified that the new Formula 1 power unit incorporates an autonomous system designed to adjust energy management and other parameters on a lap-by-lap basis. However, Stella highlighted that this technology is extremely sensitive to minute variations, compromising the way power is delivered to the pilots.
Lando Norris emphasized that the issue “is actually not related to the driver’s performance.” He pointed out that while there are factors within the contestant’s control, many others are beyond their influence. “It’s frustrating that so many external elements can determine your pace in qualifying. It’s not a question of the driver’s skill, but of being lucky enough for the power unit to work as expected, without unexpected failures. This has affected me all season,” said Norris, who, despite starting 13th due to engine component changes, managed a seventh place in the race. He further noted that this was the first weekend he felt competitive on the straights and the first time Piastri was at a disadvantage in qualifying.
Energy management has generated intense controversy in Formula 1. Implemented in 2026, this innovation elevated the importance of the electric motor in vehicle power units, but imposed on drivers the responsibility of managing the operation and recharging of their batteries, adding an extra layer of complexity to driving.
A portion of the battery recharging system operates independently, using engine modes pre-configured by engineers. However, the constant worry of running out of energy — which would reduce the car’s power by almost half, leaving it dependent solely on the combustion engine — has been a significant obstacle for competitors.
Given this scenario, Formula 1 plans a gradual change in the distribution of engine power, expected to be completed by 2028. From then on, the combustion engine will be responsible for 60% of the energy, and the electric engine, for 40%. However, Oscar Piastri expresses concern that the issue caused by the autonomous learning system may persist even with these modifications.
“The essence of the issue lies in the way systems operate,” said Piastri. He argued that tweaks to the fuel flow or its activation would not be enough to resolve the current difficulties, which are “rooted in the calibration and learning inherent in these engines.” The driver acknowledged that the situation should improve as all manufacturers better understand the technology, but highlighted that “it is not a problem exclusive to McLaren or Mercedes, but rather a common issue for all engines, according to reports from other drivers.”
