Breaking news
Formula 1
McLaren didn't consider Ferrari or own engine for 2021
McLaren did not consider a Ferrari supply or building its own Formula 1 engine while it decided to end its Renault deal and negotiate a Mercedes return for 2021.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Oct 3, 2019, 11:15 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The British team will be reunited with former partner Mercedes when its current three-year commitment to Renault ends after next season.
McLaren's F1 CEO Zak Brown said Mercedes' position as the benchmark engine over the entirety of the V6 turbo-hybrid era, even though Ferrari is now the class leader, is part of the appeal for McLaren.
He also said Ferrari would be "a clear brand clash" with McLaren on the road-car side, while Mercedes does not feel its own GT arm is an issue in that regard.
Asked by Motorsport.com if McLaren had considered Ferrari, given it has overhauled Mercedes on the engine side, or building its own bespoke unit, Brown said: "In Formula 1 you have to look at a longer period of time other than a handful of races.
"Obviously the Ferrari engine seems extremely strong at the moment but if you look at the commitment of Mercedes Benz, where they have been, and as a racing team, it is a great yardstick.
"We've not considered Ferrari. I also think it's a clear brand clash with our McLaren road car business. From making engines, fiscally it's nothing that makes sense for us.
"I think you need to be a significantly bigger OEM that can warrant the spend to justify the exposure it creates for a greater number of car sales.
"It clearly does make sense for a Mercedes, Renault, Honda, but doesn't make sense for a McLaren with the volume of cars that we sell."
Read Also:
- The reasons behind the McLaren-Mercedes reunion
- Mercedes: McLaren supply not the "start of a works deal"
- Seidl "led decision" to switch to Mercedes engines - McLaren
Back in 2017, Brown had mooted the idea of McLaren building its own engine should the 2021 regulations make that process cheaper and less complicated.
However, as discussions over F1's wider rules overhaul progressed, the existing manufacturers successfully lobbied for the V6 turbo-hybrid designs to continue unchanged.
When asked if there were any other options for McLaren, team principal Andreas Seidl, who was the driving force behind the Mercedes deal, said: "No, there are not any newcomers on the horizon.
"It's not realistic that any new engine manufacturer would come into this sport. It's simply too much money you have to invest."
On the prospect of McLaren building its own engine, Seidl said: "It was never a topic really.
"To put up a Formula 1 power unit nowadays you have to invest a lot of money.
"You need a lot of running budget each year and you would need a long time to catch up with what the others have put in place.
"That was never a topic. We're very happy with the agreement we have now with Mercedes."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Williams plans front wing 'experiment' in Suzuka
Next article Verstappen: 22-race F1 calendar will lead to divorces
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
McLaren
McLaren promotes Gregoire Saucy to WEC Hypercar team for 2027
WEC
WEC 2 h
McLaren promotes Gregoire Saucy to WEC Hypercar team for 2027
McLaren to introduce 2027 F1 front wing at Brazil GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
McLaren to introduce 2027 F1 front wing at Brazil GP
Latest news
Ryan Preece will switch to No. 6 for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
30 min
Ryan Preece will switch to No. 6 for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
Five things to look out for at F1 Brazil GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
41 min
Five things to look out for at F1 Brazil GP
John Hunter Nemechek joins Haas NASCAR O'Reilly team for 2027
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 50 min
John Hunter Nemechek joins Haas NASCAR O'Reilly team for 2027
Oliver Solberg relishing Toyota’s historic Celica WRC revival for 2027
WRC
WRC WRC
Rally Saudi Arabia
1 h
Oliver Solberg relishing Toyota’s historic Celica WRC revival for 2027
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1960s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe