McLaren: ‘Talk to Volkswagen Group’

The Volkswagen Group (and specifically Audi) seems to have set its sights on McLaren. For the time being, there would be no deal to take over McLaren, but it is clear that something is bubbling. One of the goals is to bring Audi into Formula 1. Audi would become an engine supplier to McLaren, as of 2026. That year the new engine regulations will come into effect. Zak Brown lifts a corner of the veil and proposes according to Automotive News that there are indeed talks between McLaren and the Volkswagen Group. However, there would be nothing in pitchers yet. “We have had talks, but in the short and medium term we are still happy where we are,” said Brown. McLaren F1 now still uses the Mercedes-AMG power source and that deal runs until 2025. That does not stand in the way of Audi’s arrival in 2026 and that probably also falls outside what Brown means by the ‘medium term’ .

Remarkably, Brown also commented on what the Volkswagen Group seems to be planning with Red Bull Racing. “I hear they are going to do something with Red Bull with Porsche.” The rumor that Audi will join McLaren and Porsche will once again be revived. The American does not exclude the possibility that other parties are also at the table with the Volkswagen Group: “I think they have spoken with a handful of people on the grid.”