McLaren is considering whether it could one day build its own Formula 1 power unit, with the idea emerging after a difficult start to 2026 exposed some of the disadvantages of operating as a Mercedes customer team. Zak Brown has left the door open to such a move if future engine regulations create an attractive enough opportunity, although McLaren’s immediate priority remains extracting more performance from its current Mercedes package.
At the beginning of the season, McLaren looked like a shadow of the team that had won the world championship the previous year. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri started 2026 with a double DNS and suffered further technical setbacks, interrupted only by occasional flashes of strong pace. Instead of panicking, however, McLaren promised to take its time, understand the correct development direction and, above all, work more closely with Mercedes’ powertrain division because many of its problems were connected to the power unit.
McLaren and Mercedes faced tensions early in 2026
There was some frustration between McLaren and Mercedes, including suggestions of delays in data sharing and restrictions affecting the customer team. Andrea Stella subsequently played down those concerns, describing the situation as part of a normal learning curve that McLaren’s engineers had not initially managed perfectly.
The McLaren team principal had initially been far more forceful in his assessment, describing 2026 as “the first time we have struggled as customers”. Since then, the relationship has improved considerably, with closer cooperation with Mercedes HPP contributing to McLaren’s performance recovery.
Nevertheless, McLaren only received the complete package required for its simulations shortly before the Belgian Grand Prix. That experience has encouraged management at Woking to consider a question that could eventually change the team’s history: what if McLaren became a Formula 1 power unit manufacturer rather than remaining a customer?
Could McLaren build its own Formula 1 engine?
The idea has partly been encouraged by the example of Red Bull Powertrains. Red Bull created its engine division relatively recently, recruiting engineers from rival organisations and developing a project that has quickly become one of the most highly regarded power unit programmes on the Formula 1 grid.
Zak Brown has acknowledged that McLaren would at least consider following a similar path if the conditions were right.
“It’s easier said than done, but if the regulations are interesting, we’ll think about it,” Zak Brown admitted.
Any decision would therefore depend heavily on Formula 1’s future engine rules. The current discussion centres on the evolution of the technical formula and the balance between combustion and electrical power, with McLaren unlikely to commit the enormous resources required for an engine programme unless the regulations and financial model make the project worthwhile.
McLaren’s immediate priority remains the Mercedes power unit
For now, launching such an expensive project would offer little immediate benefit. McLaren is still dedicating significant resources to understanding its current power unit and extracting as much performance as possible from the package it already has.
The team’s early problems demonstrated how difficult the latest generation of Formula 1 power units can be for a customer operation. Even when the hardware is fundamentally the same, integrating energy deployment, harvesting, mapping and drivability with a different chassis requires extremely close cooperation between the team and engine supplier.
That process has gradually improved throughout the season, helping McLaren recover from its difficult start. The team’s progress has also been driven by developments elsewhere on the car, with the latest McLaren developments and technical progress becoming increasingly important as the season has unfolded.
McLaren keeps its long-term options open
McLaren has already withdrawn from Formula E, having decided not to continue in the all-electric championship beyond its previous programme. The team’s wider motorsport strategy is evolving rapidly, while its Formula 1 operation continues to expand technologically and commercially.
That does not mean a McLaren-built Formula 1 engine is imminent. Developing a competitive power unit would require enormous investment, specialised infrastructure and the recruitment of a large technical workforce. For the moment, the team remains focused on understanding and maximising its Mercedes package.
However, McLaren’s experience during 2026 has shown management more clearly than ever what it means to depend on an external power unit manufacturer. With the organisation continuing to grow and Formula 1 already debating the direction of future engine regulations, Zak Brown is no longer ruling out the possibility that McLaren could eventually pursue full works status.
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