McLaren currently use Mercedes engines for their F1 cars thanks to a deal that's been in place since the beginning of the 2021 season.
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McLaren CEO Zak Brown revealed the team have held talks with the Volkswagen Group over a potential engine deal. VW brands Audi and Porsche have been linked with a future entry into Formula 1.
The Woking-based team currently use Mercedes engines for their F1 cars thanks to a deal that’s been in place since the beginning of the 2021 season.
Brown noted, however, that any change in engine partnerships would not take place before the 2026 season.
“I am hearing they (Volkswagen) are going to do something with Red Bull on the Porsche front,” Brown told reporters at the McLaren factory.
“I think they’ve spoken with a handful of people on the grid. And as you would imagine we have had conversations. But in the short term and medium term we’re very happy where we are.”
McLaren entered into an engine deal with Mercedes in the 2021 season, ending their previous partnership with Renault. They were the only team on the grid to change engine suppliers ahead of the season.
And given that Mercedes are direct competitors with McLaren, it would make sense the team would want a works engine deal in the future.
However, the logic of waiting out till the 2026 season makes sense.
The reason for the wait till 2026 is due to the new generation of engines set to be introduced from that year. Currently F1 is using the same turbo-hybrid engines that have been part of the sport since 2014.
However, 2026 will see the introduction of a new engine in the same mould. And, as things stand, there is concrete interest for either or both of Porsche and/or Audi to enter the sport from that year.
Brown is waiting on the company to make a final decision before choosing to go down the route of a new engine supplier. It helps, of course, that their deal with Mercedes runs until 2026.
“I think that’s not been definitively decided and if they do (enter), we have a contract (with Mercedes) through this term,” the American added.
“Naturally we’re going to evaluate where we are and who’s in the sport and take a decision on what we’re going to do in 2026 in due course.”
It is worth noting, however, that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. McLaren were once Mercedes’ works team until the Germans entered a team of their own.
After that, McLaren chose to end their engine partnership with Mercedes and signed with Honda. But that was a partnership that worked out well for neither party.
Eventually the team ditched Honda and signed with Renault. Now on an upward trajectory, the team re-signed with Mercedes and enjoyed a fine 2021.
