Piastri is a 'passenger' while Wolff acknowledges the disadvantage.

      Oscar Piastri mentioned that Formula 1 drivers might feel like they are merely passengers in an AI system by 2026, with Toto Wolff recognizing that Mercedes-powered customer teams are at a natural disadvantage with the new regulations. McLaren has consistently expressed worries that Mercedes develops its power unit alongside its own chassis, while customer teams often receive less information and may experience delays when trying to integrate new specifications. Piastri noted that this issue is exacerbated by the significant impact that electrical deployment now has on performance. When asked if he sometimes feels like a passenger in an AI program still in training, he acknowledged, "Sometimes, yes." He elaborated, "We have little control over when the deployment occurs. When there are differences that we can't manage, it can be frustrating." At Spa, teammate George Russell encountered another unexplained Mercedes deployment issue leading to his retirement on the first lap. "There was something deeply embedded in the calibration of the code," Russell explained. "It’s nearly impossible to detect unless you know exactly what to look for." Piastri believes that the situation will improve as manufacturers gain more experience, but he thinks it will never be completely resolved under the current engine regulations. "I think they’re going to be a factor as long as we have these engines, to some degree." Wolff has acknowledged that Mercedes' works team naturally started the new era with an integration advantage over reigning champions McLaren. "In this new regulatory framework, a team that develops both the power unit and chassis in-house will always hold some advantage," he stated. "This is simply because developing a chassis using a simulator always involves a certain time lag. Thus, there are aspects that need to be learned on the chassis side when integrating the powertrain." Nevertheless, Wolff denied that McLaren’s expressed concerns have harmed the relationship between the two teams. "No," responded the Austrian. "On the contrary, Andrea Stella and Zak Brown have assessed the situation with great insight and understanding. Right now, it feels like a race to catch up. Yet, I believe we are nearing a point where the pace of development and level of understanding will start to balance out. At that point, all teams will have a roughly equal grasp of these matters." Piastri mentioned that McLaren’s 2026 car has consistently been challenging to drive. "Earlier in the season, we had more concerns regarding the power unit, in terms of what we could actually control and manage ourselves, along with adjustments I could make with my driving style," the Australian explained. "Now, while there are still elements we need to handle with the power unit, it’s not really within our control as much anymore."