McLaren should continue with a Mercedes engine in 2026
As a revolution is brewing in the world of engines in 2026, McLaren team director Andrea Stella denied that the team is seeking to obtain a Red Bull-Ford engine from 2026.
In view of the regulatory changes for engines that will come into effect from 2026, many teams are considering the power unit they want in their single-seater. Several teams are developing their own engines, including Ferrari, Mercedes, and Renault.
But there are also teams that get engines from another supplier. McLaren is one of these teams, and for now, the team boss, Andrea Stella, wants to proceed cautiously when it comes to making decisions, even though he gives a rather clear indication.
After the announcement that Aston Martin will be using Honda engines from 2026, McLaren has denied the speculation that it would be seeking to acquire the new engines from Red Bull, produced in collaboration with Ford, starting from 2026. “I can confirm that there is no connection,” stated Stella.
The team is looking to extend its existing agreement with Mercedes, from whom it has been using engines since 2021.
“We had conversations with Red Bull a few months ago to explore what is available on the engine market for 2026, but at the moment, we are quite advanced in our negotiations with Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains. So, there are no ongoing conversations with Red Bull,” Stella said.
McLaren and Mercedes: a great love story
It has now been two years since Mercedes powered McLaren again. Before that, the British team went through Honda and then Renault, with no victories during that period. In reality, McLaren has never won as much as with a Mercedes engine inside the car.
With a total of 402 starts, McLaren and Mercedes have accumulated 237 podium finishes, 79 victories, and 77 pole positions. This is more than any other engine manufacturer.
