The Azerbaijan Grand Prix may have revealed far more than the competitive order at one of Formula 1’s most power-sensitive circuits. Mercedes’ advantage in Baku, Ferrari’s remaining deficit and the contrasting technical approaches of McLaren and Red Bull all point towards an area that could become even more important under the F1 2027 regulations: the integration of gearbox ratios, energy deployment, aerodynamics and the power unit.
George Russell converted pole position into victory in Azerbaijan, while Max Verstappen finished only 0.196 seconds behind the Mercedes driver. Charles Leclerc had started alongside Russell on the front row after qualifying 0.837 seconds away from pole, but the Ferrari driver eventually finished fourth. The weekend’s headline results are only part of the picture, however, because the technical differences behind those gaps could carry much greater significance into 2027.
Baku showed why Mercedes’ advantage is about more than engine power
Mercedes remained the benchmark in Azerbaijan, but explaining its performance simply through the power unit would overlook several important factors. McLaren uses the same Mercedes power unit yet displayed weaker straight-line performance in Baku, underlining the importance of how the entire package works together.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella emphasised after qualifying that overall performance depends on the complete technical package. Aerodynamic efficiency, drag, gearbox ratios and the integration between chassis and power unit all contribute to the final result. Those elements were particularly visible during a weekend in which George Russell secured pole ahead of Charles Leclerc.
Telemetry also indicated a sophisticated Mercedes energy-management approach in qualifying. The team began the lap in a lower gear and used superclipping to harvest energy efficiently, accepting some loss of maximum speed on part of the straight in order to distribute electrical energy more effectively later around the lap.
That distinction is important because performance is not determined simply by how much energy a car has available. The timing of deployment, the gearing used to exploit it and the aerodynamic characteristics of the car all affect how effectively that energy can be converted into lap time. Ferrari’s own deployment and set-up behaviour had already been visible during the final Baku practice analysis.
Different gearbox ratios separate Mercedes and McLaren
Another significant technical difference concerns gearbox ratios. Mercedes and McLaren have adopted different solutions despite sharing the same power-unit supplier. McLaren uses shorter ratios designed to favour acceleration, whereas Mercedes has chosen longer gearing that is better suited to high speeds on extended straights.
Baku provided a particularly revealing environment for that contrast. Mercedes was able to combine its gearing with efficient energy management and aerodynamic performance, demonstrating why the relationship between individual systems can be as important as the maximum output of any single component.
The broader strength of the Mercedes W17 has already been visible elsewhere during the season, with further analysis of its performance available on GP-News’ examination of the Mercedes W17.
Ferrari’s Baku problem went beyond its power-unit deficit
For Ferrari, the Azerbaijan weekend highlighted a more complicated development problem. The SF-26 arrived without upgrades, while McLaren and Red Bull introduced substantial new packages. After the race, Charles Leclerc acknowledged that both rivals had progressed in areas Ferrari had not matched and stressed the need for the Scuderia to respond with further development.
Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has confirmed that new developments are coming, but the Baku numbers indicate that the team has ground to recover across the car rather than in one isolated area.
The weekend analysis estimated Ferrari’s power unit to be around 20 to 22 horsepower behind Mercedes, a difference calculated to represent approximately three tenths of a second on Azerbaijan’s long straight. Even allowing for that deficit, however, engine performance alone does not account for the entire gap. The SF-26 telemetry from Azerbaijan also showed how the competitive picture changed across different sections of the circuit.
For the Maranello team, that makes integration increasingly important. Extracting more from the power unit will help, but Ferrari must also improve how the engine, aerodynamics, energy management and transmission work together if it is to close the complete performance deficit.
Red Bull takes another route towards 2027
Red Bull approached the end of the 2026 development cycle differently. The Milton Keynes team introduced its final major upgrade package of the season in Baku, including a revised floor and diffuser together with changes around the sidepods and mirrors. The objective was to generate more downforce while maintaining stable airflow.
The impact became particularly visible during the race. Max Verstappen finished less than two tenths behind George Russell despite having endured a compromised qualifying session because of an internal combustion engine problem. Isack Hadjar, returning from injury, completed the podium for Red Bull.
At the same time, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed that a very large majority of the team’s resources had already been transferred to the 2027 project. The closing phase of the current season is therefore also functioning as a transition towards the next car.
Why the F1 2027 gearbox change now looks especially significant
The technical lessons from Baku become more relevant when viewed alongside the latest direction of the F1 2027 regulations. On 21 September, the Formula 1 Commission approved the removal of gearbox homologation for 2027, although that change still requires ratification by the World Motor Sport Council.
The stated objective is to give suppliers greater development freedom. The same Commission meeting also approved a shortening of overall Grand Prix distances connected with refinements to fuel-flow requirements for the new engines.
Removing gearbox homologation could be particularly notable after a season in which gear ratios, energy recovery, power delivery and aerodynamic integration have already become central performance differentiators. Baku demonstrated how Mercedes can exploit those areas as one connected technical platform rather than treating each element independently.
That leaves the leading teams facing different priorities. Mercedes has demonstrated the effectiveness of its integration, McLaren continues working to reduce its efficiency deficit while optimising its relationship with Mercedes HPP, and Red Bull has already moved most of its resources towards the next project. Ferrari, meanwhile, must use its forthcoming developments to close gaps that extend beyond engine performance alone.
For more detailed coverage of how the Scuderia is attempting to extract performance from the SF-26, our Ferrari technical analysis section follows the aerodynamic, mechanical and power-unit trends shaping the car.
Baku therefore offered an early indication of where part of Formula 1’s next technical contest may develop. Maximum power will remain important, but the Azerbaijan weekend showed how much lap time can be found by combining gearing, energy deployment, aerodynamics and chassis characteristics effectively. With greater gearbox freedom planned for 2027, that integration could become an even more significant battleground before the new season begins.
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