Mercedes showcased superior energy management in the F1 2026 season opener, with GPS data revealing George Russell’s pole lap outperformed McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in 90% of corners. Despite similar power units, the works team gained straight-line speed through efficient energy deployment, leaving customers like McLaren and Williams scrambling to adapt. Toto Wolff acknowledged the “steep learning curve” for customer squads, while McLaren’s Andrea Stella highlighted gaps in exploiting the power unit’s potential, citing “low-hanging fruit” in collaboration with HPP engineers.