McLaren and Mercedes back together in customer engine deal from 2021; McLaren to continue with Renault in 2020; McLaren hail "important step" in their planned route back to the front of the grid
Wednesday 2 October 2019 15:54, UK
McLaren will return to running Mercedes engines from the 2021 F1 season.
In a move which reunites one of F1's most famous team-engine partnerships McLaren will continue with Renault power for 2020 before moving back to Mercedes for the following season - the first year of F1's big planned rules overhaul.
The deal for a customer supply of Mercedes' power units will run until at least 2024.
"This agreement is an important step in our long-term plan to return to success in Formula 1," said McLaren CEO Zak Brown.
"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."
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff added: "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."
McLaren's most recent podiums came with Mercedes power in Australia 2014, while Jenson Button achieved their last victory together in 2012.
The original McLaren-Mercedes partnership ran between 1995 and 2014, winning three drivers' and one constructors' world title. When Mercedes bought their own team in 2010, McLaren continued as engine customers until the first year of the hybrid era.
From 2015, McLaren started what proved an ill-fated works relationship with Honda, twice slumping to ninth in the standings, before switching to Renault last year.
McLaren's fortunes have drastically improved in 2019 following a restructure and key signings, led by Brown, and they sit fourth in the Constructors' Championship, 22 points ahead of Renault's own team.
"2021 will be an important milestone for us as we continue our fight back to the front, so it is vital that we have the key elements in place now to enable us to prepare for the new era of the sport," said team principal Andreas Seidl.
"We look forward to renewing our Mercedes relationship from 2021 onwards. At the same time Renault remains both a valued partner as well as a formidable competitor, and we will be focused on continuing our collaboration through the rest of this season and next."
Mercedes recently renewed their Williams engine deal until 2025, while they also currently supply Racing Point in addition to their own world champion Brackley team.
"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," added Wolff.
McLaren's move means that, as it stands, Renault will only supply their own Enstone team with engines from the season after next.
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