McLaren have aerodynamic ‘deficiency’ that means they can’t compete with Mercedes yet

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McLaren have a lot of work to do on their cars before they’re ready to compete with Mercedes, says Marc Priestley.

It was a weekend to forget for McLaren, as the Australian Grand Prix didn’t pan out the way they had hoped.

Oscar Piastri’s crash before the race ruled him out of competing in front of his home fans, while Lando Norris struggled to adapt to the new F1 regulations

What’s your take on Zak Brown’s reaction to Oscar Piastri’s crash? 🤔

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Norris criticised the ‘artificial’ F1 regulations after the race, suggesting that the reigning world champion isn’t happy about the new conditions he has to work under.

However, the issues for McLaren come down to their car, and despite sharing the same power unit as Mercedes, they don’t have enough to compete with them as things stand.

READ MORE: Ted Kravitz ‘puzzled’ by how Zak Brown reacted to Oscar Piastri’s Australian Grand Prix crash

Marc Priestley claims McLaren ‘nowhere near quick enough’ to compete with Mercedes yet

Former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley spoke on the Chequered Flag podcast about McLaren’s struggles at the Australian Grand Prix.

While he admitted that getting the Mercedes power unit just days before the race didn’t help, McLaren’s car, as things stand, is just not fast enough to compete with Mercedes due to an aerodynamic issue.

“(McLaren getting the power unit this weekend) will have cost them to some extent. Because all the time you can get on track, you’re learning more about it.”

“But I think there’s still clearly some deficiency in the McLaren Car in the aerodynamics, in the way that it uses its tyres. That car is not quick enough. It is nowhere near quick enough if it wants to take on a Mercedes.”

“So they’ve got a lot of work to do. Yes, on the power unit side and getting to grips with that and understanding how to deploy it.”

“You know these power units are complex. It’s not just the technology, it’s how you use it, how you deploy it through a race scenario. That’s a big amount of learning they’ve got to do.”

“I think they’ve still got some work to do on the chassis side. Is it aerodynamically efficient? Is it using the tyres well? Has it got grip in the places it needs it? I don’t think it was even anywhere near a match from Mercedes today.”

Mercedes claim a one-two finish to start F1’s new era! Which driver stands out from the top 10 of the Australian Grand Prix?

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READ MORE: Five things we learned from the Australian Grand Prix as Mercedes dominate and Oscar Piastri crashes

McLaren pressed for time in making changes to car this season

With the F1 season already underway, McLaren find themselves on the back foot thanks to their limited understanding of the Mercedes power unit.

Now that they have one race under their belt, the team will have to work hard and fast to ensure they get a better idea of how to get the most out of the power unit.

This might mean adapting their strategy and refining elements of their car in the weeks to come, while ensuring they’re compliant with the FIA’s rules and spending limits.

For the two-time defending constructors’ champions, this is going to be a difficult season, as they look to close the gap and get back to the top of the pack.