McLaren does not plan to part with the Mercedes engine
Tied for more than fifteen seasons, McLaren and Mercedes are expected to continue working together, at least until 2015, despite persistent rumors of the British team's desire to promote an internal engine solution.
Partners since 1995, McLaren and Mercedes have competed together in 287 Grand Prix, won one constructors’ title, three drivers’ titles, and 68 victories. A long-term collaboration that seemed to be coming to a premature end. While McLaren has a contract with the German engine manufacturer until 2015, rumors were rife, particularly about the possibility that the Woking team might consider producing its own engine block as early as 2014.
The engine regulations introduced for the 2014 season indeed switch Formula 1 from a V8 engine, as currently used, to a turbocharged V6, accompanied by a reduction in capacity from 2.4L to 1.6L, as well as the addition of additional energy recovery systems. Several sources suggested that McLaren was going to launch its own engine department using the technology already present on road cars developed by the British firm, with the help of Ricardo, a public British company that actively participated in the development of the McLaren M838T, the first V8 branded “McLaren.”
The team’s manager, Jonathan Neale, however, wanted to express his stance on the matter, reminding that McLaren was committed to Mercedes until 2015 or even beyond: « I can give a solid guarantee that our intention is to stay with Mercedes-Benz and their engines during the transition between now and the next generation of engines. They are our engine partner, we very much enjoy working with them, and we want to continue doing so for many years to come ».
I think that, sometimes, when people look at the McLaren Group as a whole, and look at how the road car department is developing, there are, of course, many questions about the future. But we must not mix that up with what is happening with the Formula 1 team’s engine program. We are very focused on the Mercedes engines, which are doing a top-notch job for us and we hope to be an intimate and very successful partner for them.
As for the possibility of seeing Mercedes’ engine structure significantly close in on the Mercedes GP team, Neale believes it’s incorrect: « The assumption that we no longer work as closely with Mercedes is incorrect. We have a long-standing relationship with Mercedes-Benz High-Performance Engines in Brixworth, we know the guys there very well, and we form a good team together. I think we expect and work closely well before 2014. Our job is to ensure that Mercedes has the best engine on the grid and that it is the best prepared for 2014. I do not feel in any way that we are disadvantaged ».
Recently, Red Bull signed a partnership contract with Renault Sport until 2016 for the supply of both an engine and a number of technologies for the 2014 season, making the Austrian team the first partner of the engine manufacturer in Viry-Châtillon.
