Prodrive and McLaren will probably not associate

It’s a difficult situation that the likely future 12th F1 team is currently experiencing. Indeed, several factors are calling into question its participation in the premier event for 2008.

After several reports casting doubt on whether the team would be ready in 2008, David Richards, head of Prodrive, has now ruled out the possibility of an alliance with McLaren Mercedes for the chassis and engine package.

“We cannot yet realize the plans we have made with McLaren,” Richards said according to the Reuters news agency.

“There will not be a vigorous arrangement at the level of the cars, it cannot be that way,” he added, while not ruling out the possibility of a hybrid chassis or a car with some similarities.

The main complication for Prodrive centers on the ambiguity of the rules “of a car that uses certain elements from other teams” for 2008.

Williams recently wrote a letter of protest to the FIA, and Mosley referred to the appeals court for a hearing later in October. The legality of Prodrive’s ability to use McLaren chassis and a Mercedes engine will be widely debated during this session.

“In the meantime, we will consider all very conceivable alternative options for next season,” concluded the Prodrive boss.

In March 2006, the potential teams for the 2008 championship were gathered by the FIA. 22 teams attended this meeting, including the current 11 teams seen this year and Prodrive, which secured its winning ticket, that is to say, the 12th spot in the paddocks.

The team must therefore be patient about its near future while remaining active to possibly prepare for its first season in F1.