2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

[FittingMechanics]

I think building your own engine is very risky. Especially if you are able to buy the best engine in the field (probably Mercedes today).

Now, I understand the data sharing issue and that Toto seems to be willing to screw over customers by threatening reducing supply but building your own engine is probably even more of a risk.

We'll see how McLaren builds understanding of the PU throughout the year. If they still feel they are being screwed over I am sure we will hear about it but right now first priority needs to be the chassis, McLaren needs to be faster in the corners (and straights) and complaining about the engine is meaningless because the car would still be slower than Mercedes.

[nitrotech]

It wouldn’t be the first time Mercedes supply an engine to a team and then buy into said team would it?…… Brawn anyone?

Not at all. iirc, the story was that Mercedes wanted to buy-out Mclaren but Ron Dennis said no and that's why they bought Brawn.

Mercedes did not have any intention to have a factory team and were happy being title sponsors and free engine providers for McLaren. When BrawnGP was struggling for survival and was on the market for a nominal price and was also on road to become 2009 champions, Norbert Haug convinced Dieter Zetsche to go for it. There were discussions related to RRA (resource restriction agreement) on the horizon and he felt it would be budget friendly to own and operate a team. The price for BrawnGP was lower than annual title sponsorship fee Daimler was paying McLaren, not including free engines. So it was a reluctant decision of Daimler to go for factory team. A competitive, low budget team whose Team Principal would be Ross Brawn and his plan to bring Michael Schumacher onboard were a good combination of parameters for Daimler to say yes. Buying McLaren was a monstrous budget ask at the time.

[nitrotech]

Not sure if this posted already.

https://www.formulatecnica.it/2026/03/f ... -mercedes/

McLaren has several problems: aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, tire management, and messed-up power unit simulations, where the support from Mercedes as a supplier is not satisfactory. Unexpressed and latency in performance.

[Farnborough]

I think building your own engine is very risky. Especially if you are able to buy the best engine in the field (probably Mercedes today).

Now, I understand the data sharing issue and that Toto seems to be willing to screw over customers by threatening reducing supply but building your own engine is probably even more of a risk.

We'll see how McLaren builds understanding of the PU throughout the year. If they still feel they are being screwed over I am sure we will hear about it but right now first priority needs to be the chassis, McLaren needs to be faster in the corners (and straights) and complaining about the engine is meaningless because the car would still be slower than Mercedes.

This balance will always be skewed by having more power available, more of the time.

It will always facilitate more downforce and drag to be pulled around the track, and so even if the speed is a match in ultimate terminal kph, that can happen with more wing can be added.

Both RBPT & Audi PU entry this year have somewhat shifted perception of manufacturing a PU as first iteration. Brixworth undoubtedly is very very good in their product, but looks a little less exclusive in this current competitive field now.

[AR3-GP]

It wouldn’t be the first time Mercedes supply an engine to a team and then buy into said team would it?…… Brawn anyone?

Not at all. iirc, the story was that Mercedes wanted to buy-out Mclaren but Ron Dennis said no and that's why they bought Brawn.

Mercedes did not have any intention to have a factory team and were happy being title sponsors and free engine providers for McLaren. When BrawnGP was struggling for survival and was on the market for a nominal price and was also on road to become 2009 champions, Norbert Haug convinced Dieter Zetsche to go for it. There were discussions related to RRA (resource restriction agreement) on the horizon and he felt it would be budget friendly to own and operate a team. The price for BrawnGP was lower than annual title sponsorship fee Daimler was paying McLaren, not including free engines. So it was a reluctant decision of Daimler to go for factory team. A competitive, low budget team whose Team Principal would be Ross Brawn and his plan to bring Michael Schumacher onboard were a good combination of parameters for Daimler to say yes. Buying McLaren was a monstrous budget ask at the time.

Mercedes had a 40% ownership stake in Mclaren since 1999, and was considering to buyout the team and make it the Mercedes works team, as reported by AMUS: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/102 ... mclaren-f1

Ron Dennis killed the deal. What happened with Brawn was simply opportunism when they didn't get their way at Mclaren.

[API]

No, no, it was Martin Whitmarsh's great naivety to allow Brawn to use Mercedes engines

[CjC]

Honda really has stuffed McLaren over the last 20 years.

The good work in the 80s domination has been well and truely been nullified in recent history.

By pulling out of F1 at the end of 2008 paved the way for McLaren to loose works status with Merc. Then they supplied duff PUs for 3 seasons.

Anyway that’s just an unnecessary rant

[CjC]

The middle east is kinda on fire right now, otherwise I would just ask them to dump more oil money into the McLaren Group and just build their own engines.

Even without the trouble in the Middle East would building their own PU be viable? RBPT have done an awesome job but they needed assistance initially from Honda and now Ford.
Merc certainly won’t sell them any IP and which other car maker not already in the sport is a realistic option?
McLarens options are incredibly limited, their most realistic option and it pains me to say it, is to piss and moan to the FIA to create a rule where not only the PU is to be run in the exact same way (or how ever the rule is written) but also all info has to be shared between the works and customer teams as to how to run it at its most optimum- which in turn could annoy the PU manufacturer who then in turn decides to leave the sport and that seems to be the LAST thing Liberty Media and the FIA want hence why we are in this current situation right now

This is not a "pull the plug and fit your own engine tomorrow" kind of thing. They are in contract with Mercedes until 2030. If they feel they will be screwed over they would have to act as soon as possible. Ideally by the end of this season already if they want to be serious about it.

I don't think the facilities are the biggest problem though. That's easily done if you want to do it and have the money. The problem is poaching the right people. That's one of the reasons why RBPT is so good right now and Horner deserves some credit for that. There's a lot of experienced engineering talent in the UK already, but convincing them to jump ship is not easy.

What if Zak, Stella and Horner managed to make something work and Horner building a powertrain department for McLaren. That’d make for some tasty watching

[De Wet]

Mclaren need to keep an eye on the situation with Mercedes potentially buying a stake in Alpine. That will almost certainly mean that Mclaren will need to look for a new engine partner.

As you know, Mercedes discussed dropping a customer team because it's not profitable. It's easy to understand why Mclaren would be on the chopping block if Toto buys into Alpine:

Williams has long time Toto partner in crime, James Vowles.
Alpine would be Mercedes junior team.
Mclaren -> odd man out.

If Horner buys into Alpine, then Alpine will be the team that gets dropped.

Mclaren could probably go to Audi. Mclaren-Audi seems okay.

Screw Audi... They are the reason we have these Idiotic Engine rules. F1 must move away from EU car companies asap.

[AR3-GP]

Mclaren would reach the weight limit in Miami, according to autoracer.

One of the reasons would concern the work on reducing the weight of the Woking car: McLaren, as anticipated, started with the handicap of a significant overweight, only partially reduced in Australia, according to a rival team. The world champion team would be concentrating a lot of efforts to lighten its MCL40, with the aim of reaching the minimum quota by Miami according to the information collected.

https://autoracer.it/mclaren-mcl40-aust ... ower-unit/

[De Wet]

Even without the trouble in the Middle East would building their own PU be viable? RBPT have done an awesome job but they needed assistance initially from Honda and now Ford.
Merc certainly won’t sell them any IP and which other car maker not already in the sport is a realistic option?
McLarens options are incredibly limited, their most realistic option and it pains me to say it, is to piss and moan to the FIA to create a rule where not only the PU is to be run in the exact same way (or how ever the rule is written) but also all info has to be shared between the works and customer teams as to how to run it at its most optimum- which in turn could annoy the PU manufacturer who then in turn decides to leave the sport and that seems to be the LAST thing Liberty Media and the FIA want hence why we are in this current situation right now

This is not a "pull the plug and fit your own engine tomorrow" kind of thing. They are in contract with Mercedes until 2030. If they feel they will be screwed over they would have to act as soon as possible. Ideally by the end of this season already if they want to be serious about it.

I don't think the facilities are the biggest problem though. That's easily done if you want to do it and have the money. The problem is poaching the right people. That's one of the reasons why RBPT is so good right now and Horner deserves some credit for that. There's a lot of experienced engineering talent in the UK already, but convincing them to jump ship is not easy.

What if Zak, Stella and Horner managed to make something work and Horner building a powertrain department for McLaren. That’d make for some tasty watching

Horner is toxic. Keep him far away from Mclaren.

[CjC]

Mclaren would reach the weight limit in Miami, according to autoracer.

One of the reasons would concern the work on reducing the weight of the Woking car: McLaren, as anticipated, started with the handicap of a significant overweight, only partially reduced in Australia, according to a rival team. The world champion team would be concentrating a lot of efforts to lighten its MCL40, with the aim of reaching the minimum quota by Miami according to the information collected.

https://autoracer.it/mclaren-mcl40-aust ... ower-unit/

Would run in line with the forums theory of a Miami style update

[Emag]

No, no, it was Martin Whitmarsh's great naivety to allow Brawn to use Mercedes engines

Mercedes was looking to get into the scene in some way or another. They tried to buyout McLaren, Ron didn't want it. Brawn just happened to be there so they took that route instead. If they didn't have the Brawn option it was likely just going to delay the inevitable anyway.

[SmallSoldier]

If McLaren was not on the back foot that would be very bad for the other teams. Out of the Big 4 they are the team that will be able to find "low hanging fruit". Just from the PU optimization perspective they should gain more throughout the season as they are the only customer team in Big 4 which means they haven't designed their PU to suit the car. Also McLaren showed the best development for a few years now.

I wanted them to be closer but it's not unexpected.

Having lower ATR is bad, but that's why they are trying to be smart with upgrades and not rush them.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the other teams in the Top 3 are a bit concerned about McLaren… They were off in Melbourne, but if what we know is missing has a significant impact, the team could very well be fighting closer to the top at some point in time this season.

They are overweight and the plan is to be at or below the weight limit by Miami
They aren’t maximizing the PU, beyond lack of knowledge and experience with the latest iteration of it, apparently they weren’t using the latest software for it either
The car is still in “base form”, while Ferrari, RB and Mercedes have already brought upgrades and evolved their car from Shakedown to Melbourne itself, McLaren is still running the same car that they brought to Barcelona

There is a lot of low hanging fruit for McLaren to take advantage of… How much and how fast is the million dollar question, but the opportunity to move forward is there for them

[WardenOfTheNorth]

Mclaren need to keep an eye on the situation with Mercedes potentially buying a stake in Alpine. That will almost certainly mean that Mclaren will need to look for a new engine partner.

As you know, Mercedes discussed dropping a customer team because it's not profitable. It's easy to understand why Mclaren would be on the chopping block if Toto buys into Alpine:

Williams has long time Toto partner in crime, James Vowles.
Alpine would be Mercedes junior team.
Mclaren -> odd man out.

If Horner buys into Alpine, then Alpine will be the team that gets dropped.

Mclaren could probably go to Audi. Mclaren-Audi seems okay.

Screw Audi... They are the reason we have these Idiotic Engine rules. F1 must move away from EU car companies asap.

Honda are also a reason for these PU rules.

Should F1 move away from European AND Asian car companies and just use.... Presumably American ones??

Never mind that the vast majority of the sport's teams and staff are in Europe. That several of the biggest car companies in the world are Asian and European?

Your comment makes no sense at all.