Zak Brown addresses F1 power unit controversy: Will Mercedes miss the Australian GP?. McLaren CEO Zak Brown comments on the Mercedes power unit controversy.

F1 | Zak Brown on the power unit case: Could Mercedes-powered cars miss Melbourne?

Mercedes-powered cars could potentially miss the first race of the 2026 Formula 1 season, but Zak Brown has weighed in to clarify the concerns ahead of Melbourne. A shift in approach by the FIA seems to hint at possible surprises even during the Bahrain test sessions. If the Brackley-based team is forced to adjust its engines, this could mean we won’t see them on track in Australia.

It’s a tense moment in the sport. The F1 paddock is debating potential actions—and their consequences—regarding compression ratios, amid fears that Mercedes and Red Bull power units might be illegal. While initially Milton Keynes appeared to support its rivals, it now seems the Austrian team is also pushing for adjustments in measurement criteria.

This could force the German manufacturer to modify its engines, a potentially long and complex process that could not only affect performance but even prevent the official team and its customer teams from participating in the Australian Grand Prix, the season opener.

Zak Brown: “Mercedes engines will be on the grid”

“I can’t imagine there won’t be Mercedes teams on the grid in Australia,” explained Zak Brown, McLaren CEO. “We’re not directly aware of those conversations, so from a power unit point of view I wouldn’t even know what would be required to change the regulations. But we will have all Mercedes customer teams on the grid in Australia.”

“The engine was designed to be fully compliant with the regulations. It’s Formula 1—this isn’t different from situations like the double diffusers we’ve seen in the past, which were legal under the rules. I don’t think there’s any significant advantage, as the competition portrays it, but obviously their job is to create a story from any perceived edge.”

“The reality is the engine is completely compliant. It has passed all the tests,” Zak Brown concluded.

Zak Brown’s firm defense of the Mercedes power unit therefore highlights the escalating political battle as the 2026 season approaches. By comparing the current situation to historical technical innovations like the double diffuser, the McLaren CEO is attempting to frame the compression ratio debate as a typical F1 “gray area” rather than a breach of the rules. As the FIA continues its scrutiny, the pressure will remain on the governing body to provide a definitive ruling that ensures a full and competitive grid for the Australian Grand Prix, while balancing the technical ingenuity of the manufacturers against the strict letter of the law.