Key voices at Mercedes want to ‘get rid’ of world champions McLaren as an engine customer

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Mercedes will continue to supply engines to F1 rivals McLaren until 2030. The two teams signed a contract extension in 2023.

It’s a lucrative deal for Mercedes, likely earning them an eight-figure fee every year. The more teams they supply, the more data they can gather for power unit development.

What’s more, it also reflects well on the Mercedes brand when McLaren win races or, as they have done in the last two seasons, world championships.

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Still, one can understand why some at the team are questioning the merits of the partnership. The bottom line is that Mercedes are helping a direct rival.

People at Mercedes HQ want to end McLaren engine supply deal

According to F1-Insider’s Ralf Bach, some at the Mercedes HQ in Stuttgart are pushing for the F1 team to split with McLaren when the current contract concludes.

There is a feeling that McLaren are standing in the way of Mercedes ‘becoming world champions again’. The HPP division has been regarded as the benchmark since the start of the turbo/hybrid era in 2014 and is widely believed to have built the best engine for the 2026 regulations.

If McLaren outclass Mercedes in the aerodynamics department, the horsepower advantage over the rest of the field may count for little.

“How long can Mercedes afford to keep supplying McLaren?” Bach asked. “They also have the Mercedes engine.

“There are voices in Stuttgart saying that ‘we actually have to get rid of them so that we can become world champions again.”

McLaren first used Mercedes power in 1995, a partnership that lasted until 2014. After a disastrous reunion with Honda and a short-lived stint with Renault, they linked up with the German manufacturer again in 2021.

How many races have Mercedes won as an engine supplier?

In addition to McLaren, Williams will buy Mercedes power units until 2030. While not an immediate threat, James Vowles’ squad could intensify the dilemma long-term.

Williams are targeting race wins by 2027 or 2028, and their confidence will largely be based on their Mercedes engine.

Aston Martin left the stable at the end of last year, effectively becoming the Honda works team instead. Alpine have embraced customer team status and will fill the void left by Aston.

Toto Wolff has indicated that Mercedes plan to cut down the number of teams they supply in the next rules cycle, which will begin in 2030.

Mercedes engines have powered 238 Grand Prix victories, the second most all time. Only Ferrari (249) have more.