McLaren can celebrate as new Petronas fuel set to boost Mercedes engine by 20 horsepower
· Yahoo Sports
There’s growing optimism within McLaren and other Mercedes-powered teams that Petronas’ new fuel could provide a notable horsepower bump heading into the Australian Grand Prix.
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While concerns had surfaced during pre-season testing about Petronas lagging behind in fuel certification, those fears have largely been dismissed in recent weeks.
The shift to sustainable fuel regulations in 2026 has set up a fresh competition among suppliers, with Petronas now sharing the stage with Shell (Ferrari), ExxonMobil (RBPT), Castrol (Audi) and Aramco (Aston Martin).
Given the scale of this year’s rule changes, both car performance and fuel development are expected to progress faster than ever.
How Petronas fuel could impact Mercedes and McLaren’s performance in Australia
Petronas’ latest fuel blend could deliver an extra 15-20 horsepower to Mercedes, McLaren, Williams and Alpine according to Motorsport Italia.
That gives the four teams reason to ‘rejoice’ heading to Albert Park. Red Bull Powertrains are trying to use the well-publicised compression ratio loophole, but haven’t been able to execute the trick to the same effect.
Ferrari, meanwhile, have chosen a smaller turbo design that should give them a boost in acceleration. They’re also looking for straight-line speed gains through some bold aerodynamic decisions.
Audi’s first attempt at an F1 engine looks ‘well-designed’ but it looks as if they will need more time than RBPT to catch up with the established manufacturers.
But Honda are struggling just before the new season kicks off, showing that experience isn’t always enough on its own.
Kimi Antonelli had a power unit change during the first Bahrain test and then caused a red flag after stopping in the second test.
McLaren, Williams and Alpine ran older engines during testing but will have the full upgrades installed for round one.
Mercedes’ rivals have changed their mind in fuel compression ratio scandal
Reports from Motorsport-Magazin indicate that the proposed introduction of a new fuel compression ratio check has been brought forward, with implementation now set for June instead of August.
The change came after Mercedes boss Toto Wolff responded positively to the original timeline. Now, checks will be conducted at 130 degrees two months earlier than first planned, adding to the existing room temperature tests.
By 2027, power units will only be measured when hot. Despite what some might expect, compression ratios actually decrease during running, meaning that staying within the 16:1 limit should theoretically become more manageable over time.
Mercedes are reported to have reached a 16.3:1 ratio – lower than some initial reports suggesting 18:1 – while rivals are still around 15.2:1. Even so, it’s a notable difference in a field where even small margins can make all the difference.
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