WOKING, England, Jan 18 (Reuters) – McLaren have talked with the Volkswagen Group, whose Audi and Porsche brands have been linked to future Formula One entry, but nothing has been agreed, according to team boss Zak Brown.
German newspaper F.A.Z. has reported that Volkswagen’s supervisory board will decide at the end of February whether both Audi and luxury brand Porsche would enter the sport.
Sources told Reuters at the end of last year that a possible partnership between Audi and McLaren was on the table, but undecided.
“I think they’ve spoken with a handful of people on the grid and as you would imagine we have had conversations but in the short term and medium term we’re very happy where we are.”
McLaren currently use engines provided by Mercedes and Brown said that would not change until a new engine is introduced in 2026.
The agreement with Honda covers the duration of an engine freeze, which will run from this year until the sport introduces the next generation of power units.
Brown said McLaren would wait and see whether the Volkswagen brands did decide to take the plunge.
“Naturally we’re going to evaluate where we are and who’s in the sport and take a decision on what we’re going to do in 2026 in due course.”