Mercedes explains why F1 customers cannot extract the same power unit performance

Mercedes has explained that their customer teams, including McLaren, Alpine, and Williams, are unable to match the performance of the works team due to a lack of advanced simulation tools and intellectual property. Bradley Lord, Mercedes' deputy team principal, noted that these tools have been developed through close collaboration between the Mercedes F1 team and their power unit division, which customer teams do not have access to. As a result, customer teams need to invest in their own resources to fully exploit the power unit's capabilities.

This season, Mercedes has dominated the races, winning eight out of eleven Grands Prix, while Ferrari and McLaren have secured the remaining wins. The performance gap has led to discussions among teams, with McLaren's Andrea Stella indicating a desire for increased collaboration with Mercedes. The ongoing learning curve in this new regulatory environment highlights the complexities faced by all teams as they adapt to the changes.