F1
The Weekly Question – Can McLaren reverse the trend against Mercedes?
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The Weekly Question is back for a new edition. Each week, you have the opportunity to answer a question about an event that took place the previous weekend or that could take place the next. F1, MotoGP, Rally, Endurance, IndyCarGT… all disciplines will be covered. This week, do you think that McLaren could it be, rather than Classic Ferrari for sale, the team best placed to reverse the trend in F1 in 2026 facing Mercedes Benz ?
Second placeOscar piastri The Japanese Grand Prix gave the reigning world champion team hope of getting back into the fight against Mercedes. Piastri battled with George Russell at the front throughout the first part of the Grand Prix, until the safety car intervention allowed Kimi Antonelli to take the victory.
While Ferrari played the role of bogeyman against Mercedes in the first two Grands Prix of the season, could McLaren now assume that role as they gain a better understanding of the Mercedes engine, which caused them problems in the first two races? It's worth remembering that Japan was Oscar Piastri's first race of the season, and both Ferrari cars had to retire before even starting in Shanghai, China…
Answer our weekly question, and we'll debate your opinions tomorrow at 20pm on the AUTOhebdo YouTube channel, in a new episode of The Show!
ALSO READ > Antonelli takes the double, Bearman sloppy: the Japanese Grand Prix ratings
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Paul Lucas
31/03/2026 at 09:30 a.m.
As you say, Yves-Henri, let's wait and see what happens in Europe, the land of real circuits! And in April, Mercedes will certainly address its "problem" with the starts :)
Aurlien
30/03/2026 at 10:49 a.m.
So, as for the title, it's over. Remember Miami 2024, the 6th GP of the season in May? McLaren was 3rd, 115 points behind Red Bull, and took the championship lead in Baku in September. Now, after Japan, McLaren is P3, 89 points behind Mercedes, so the title is complicated. But competing with Mercedes (having resolved Norris's recurring reliability issues) for podiums and wins, yes, that's entirely possible.
CLAUDE PLANCON
30/03/2026 at 09:22 a.m.
It seems a foregone conclusion, Mercedes in front, and the others behind, barring any unforeseen circumstances. The car still has plenty of power left, and its only limitation is tire wear.
Alain Féguenne (🇫🇷 Luxembourg)
30/03/2026 at 12:49 a.m.
The long break in April will do many people good! McLaren and Ferrari will get closer to Mercedes-AMG… We'll see in the coming weeks. 😎👀🍾🧐. Alain Féguenne, F1 Competitions - 24 Hours of Le Mans - WEC
vincent moyet
30/03/2026 at 12:46 a.m.
The question is justified given the team's enormous development capacity and its tendency to consistently hit the mark with its upgrades over the past several years. Even so, the 2024 situation is likely to repeat itself, as the two Papaya boys are already significantly behind the Mercedes drivers in the championship. But the question concerns the team's ability to do so, not whether it can actually snatch the title from Mercedes.
Yves-Henri RANDIER
29/03/2026 at 08:55 a.m.
Perhaps a slightly premature question, let's wait for F1 to arrive in Europe in June, starting with Monaco and then Barcelona!