Overview
- Teams report that the 2026 power units use on-board machine learning that 'forward thinks' and can change how much electric boost is deployed between laps, which drivers call unpredictable deployment.
- Drivers say deployment swings can come from tiny differences in button timing, braking or wind, and those swings shift braking points and corner references on cars with lower downforce and new Pirelli tyres.
- McLaren says it lagged in pre-programming tools but now has new simulation models coming online that begin to guide the on-car AI and reduce weekend guesswork for its drivers.
- Mercedes has confirmed a fleet-wide software fault at Spa that cut electric boost and is under investigation, prompting urgent code patches and making software reliability a competitive issue.
- The rule changes mean teams must now link combustion engines, electric harvest and AI controllers with aero and tyre setups, so expect more software updates, aero tweaks and simulation work to decide lap strategy and car balance.