Paul Glover
I talk lots
After the current season, the Renault and McLaren partnership will have one more to run. Zak Brown the Chief Executive for McLaren racing commented “Renault has been instrumental to our Formula 1 recovery plan and a fantastic partner to McLaren Racing. Despite its understandable focus on its factory team, Renault has always been fair, consistent and transparent in our relationship and we thank the whole team at Viry for the excellent service provided to McLaren in F1 over the past two years. Of course, we enter the final year of our relationship in 2020 and are focused on continuing our challenge together of closing the performance gap to the front of the field.”
Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Sport Racing Managing Director added "Since our partnership began, McLaren has gone from ninth to fourth position in the Constructors’ Championship. We can therefore consider this a very successful relationship. However, while looking beyond the terms of the current contract, which concludes at the end of 2020, it was apparent that Renault and McLaren have different ambitions for the future."
On the new partnership Zak Brown said “This agreement is an important step in our long-term plan to return to success in Formula 1. Mercedes is the benchmark, both as a team and a power unit, so it is natural we would seek to secure a relationship with the company for the next phase of our journey. This announcement reflects the confidence of our shareholders and is an important message to our investors, our team, partners and fans that we are committed to returning McLaren to the front of the field.”
Head of Merceded Benz, Toto Wolf added “We are delighted to welcome McLaren back to the Mercedes-Benz racing family with this new power unit supply agreement. Although the two brands share a prestigious history, this new agreement is all about looking to the future and beginning a new era of power unit supply for the years ahead. McLaren have been putting in place the building blocks of their revival over recent seasons, including impressive performances this season with Renault power. We hope that this new long-term agreement marks another milestone for McLaren as they aim to take the fight to the sport’s top teams, including our Mercedes works team."
Since 2014 when the last McLaren and Mercedes partnership ended McLaren have experienced some turbulence out on track, no one will ever forget the outbursts from a certain Fernando Alonso when driving for the team with a Honda engine in the back.
After two seasons with the Japanese outfit, Mclaren and Honda parted way for Renault to step in. Whilst you could argue the team have made a step forward this season, many comment that is probably more to do with the chassis than the power unit.
Today's announcement is an interesting one, will Mercedes remain supplier of engines to Williams and SportPesa Racing Point F1 team? Making a total of three teams on the grid and will Renault try and source another team to supply?
What are your thoughts on today's announcement? Will this decision by McLaren help them to close the one second gap to the top teams?
Last edited:
