Guenther Steiner tells Toto Wolff ‘he can stop’ McLaren’s Mercedes engine deal amid growing threat

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Toto Wolff and Mercedes should stop supplying engines to McLaren given the rivalry between the two teams, Guenther Steiner says.

McLaren have been racing with Mercedes power units since the start of the 2021 season. They weren’t initially a threat to the Silver Arrows but regained their front-running status in the second half of 2023.

Zak Brown’s squad then won the constructors’ title in 2024 before taking both championships last year, a damning outcome for Mercedes’ chassis department.

Guenther Steiner: Toto Wolff is giving his ‘best piece to his biggest opponent’

Mercedes’ works status was seen as a key advantage at the start of the ruleset given their greater understanding of the new technology. Indeed, McLaren struggled to optimise their engine in the opening rounds of the season, leading to slight tension between the two teams.

The implication was that Mercedes were withholding some information in their competitive interests. But McLaren have closed the knowledge gap substantially and are now the nearest challenger to Wolff’s squad.

If you were Mercedes, would you stop giving McLaren engines?

The deal expires in 2030

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Lando Norris finished a close second to Kimi Antonelli in the Miami Grand Prix, having led a one-two in the Sprint race a day earlier – Mercedes’ first defeat of the season. Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Steiner urged Wolff to seek an ‘easy solution’.

McLaren’s deal with Mercedes runs until 2030, so it may be years before the German manufacturer have the opportunity to pull the plug.

“If I was Toto, I would do that,” said Steiner. “It’s an easy solution to being beaten: ‘I don’t give you an engine anymore’.

“He can stop it. You need to supply engines by regulations, but you’re not obliged to do more than two – Alpine and Williams.

“Toto is a sportsman. He gives his best piece to his biggest opponent. I wouldn’t do it!

“Now that they gave it to them, it would look embarrassing [to take it away]. It was not a good idea to go into the deal in the first place. Nobody thought McLaren would have this resurgence and be strong again.”

Who could supply McLaren if Mercedes ditch them?

Based on reports in the off-season, certain ‘voices’ at Mercedes want to end the McLaren partnership ahead of the next rules cycle.

As Steiner notes, they also supply Alpine and Williams, two teams who have historically been successful (in Alpine’s case, when they were known as Renault) but are now seen as midfield outfits.

If McLaren are forced to seek a new partner for 2030 and beyond, it’s unlikely that Red Bull or Ferrari will be receptive, having seen Mercedes strengthen a direct competitor.

That would leave Honda – an undesirable option right now even without the baggage – and Audi. General Motors plan to build an engine for Cadillac by 2029, but may be seen as too inexperienced.

Provided Audi fulfil their potential, they may be the most attractive alternative, but perhaps McLaren could consider setting up their own engine division as Red Bull did.