McLaren’s long-term F1 future could yet include a dramatic transformation from customer team to full works operation – but Zak Brown has made it clear there is one decisive factor that would determine whether the British outfit takes that leap.
As Formula 1 edges toward another possible power unit revolution, Brown has revealed McLaren would seriously consider building its own engine if the sport can create a financially sustainable formula.
For now, McLaren remains a prominent Mercedes’ customer, continuing a partnership that has powered multiple championship-winning eras and currently runs through at least 2030.
But with discussions intensifying around the future of F1 engine regulations – including growing support for a return to V8 power – the possibility of new manufacturers entering the sport is no longer being dismissed as fantasy.
And neither, it seems, is the prospect of McLaren becoming one of them.
“I think if you got an engine formula that was financially viable then, yeah, we would consider it and the technology,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown told reporters at last weekend’s Indy 500.
“That being said, we couldn’t be happier with Mercedes [High Performance Powertrains], so yeah, if something is presented to us that first financially makes sense, then we’ll have a look at it.”
F1’s engine debate gathering speed
Brown’s comments arrive at a pivotal moment for Formula 1.
The incoming 2026 power unit regulations have already triggered fierce debate throughout the paddock, with criticism emerging from drivers, fans and team figures concerned about the complexity of the new systems and the heavy emphasis on electrical deployment.
In response, Formula 1 has already begun discussing potential tweaks for 2027, including a proposed 60-40 split between combustion and electric power.
But pushing through any major change will require substantial support from manufacturers on the Power Unit Advisory Committee – a process that has already exposed divisions behind closed doors.
The growing uncertainty has even reignited concerns over driver frustration, with Max Verstappen again hinting that the direction of the regulations could influence his long-term future in the sport.
Yet amid the turbulence surrounding the next generation of engines, Brown remains convinced Formula 1 itself is not facing a crisis.
Brown confident F1 show will remain strong
While debate around battery management and energy deployment continues to dominate conversations inside the paddock, Brown believes the racing product itself remains as entertaining as ever for fans watching around the world.
“So the racing is great, like if you didn’t hear the drivers and were just watching on TV, the TV product is great,“ Brown said.
“There’s passing, five different leaders in Miami, passes for the lead, so I think the fans watching the race are going, ’That’s a damn exciting race.’
“I think what happened is with any new technology. We already saw it in Miami. We’ve seen the drivers are getting, A, more used it to and, B, the rules are getting more refined. We’ll get them maybe not to a perfect place, but there’s always been rule management, tire management [and] now you have battery management.
“I think it’s to an extreme that the majority of the drivers don’t enjoy it - it’s still racing. … So I think that will smooth itself out and I think everything in Formula 1 has a magnifying glass of 1,000 on it.”
Read also: Zak Brown takes aim at ‘A/B teams’ in F1 in formal letter to FIAFor McLaren, the engine debate could ultimately shape far more than technical regulations. If Formula 1 succeeds in reducing costs while preserving competitive spectacle, the sport may tempt one of its most iconic names into becoming a full manufacturer once again.
And if that day comes, Brown has already made clear the key requirement: the numbers have to add up.
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