Audi’s parent company, the Volkswagen Group, has admitted that preparations to bring the Ingolstadt house, but also the Porsche brand, into Formula 1 from 2026 are well advanced.
While Porsche looks set to bond with Red Bull, Audi’s plans aren’t as clear as it is still weighing its options.
Talks have already been held with McLaren and an acquisition of the team was also considered, which would then become the official Audi F1 team. A scenario that, however, would have led to the disappearance of the McLaren name from the Circus.
Speaking ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Zak Brown made it clear that the McLaren name is here to stay and that there will be no sale to Audi.
When asked by Motorsport.com if there was a possibility of a full team sale, Brown said, “No, no. Our shareholders are very busy with McLaren.”
“We have had conversations with Audi and we are not for sale. We are very committed to our future and we are doing very well on the track.”
“The shareholders are making substantial investments to give our team the resources we need to get back up front, and commercially we are doing very well. The morale of the team is really good. We have no interest in selling the team.”
He added: “We are McLaren F1. This is what will remain, and we will remain owners of the team.”
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing
Photo by: Alexander Trienitz
Brown’s confidence in McLaren’s future rests on the improved financial situation of the team, which has recovered from the cash crisis suffered at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most notably, he cites a $ 185 million deal with investor MSP Sports Capital, which gave the team a solid foundation for making decisions based on their interests.
“We are in a really strong position and 18 months ago it wasn’t like that,” he said. “MSP Sports Capital has come in and invested, and you all know the situation we were in 18 months ago. Now it feels like a long time ago, especially given our current condition.”
“Our terms for any partnership are to keep ownership of the team. And if anyone wants to talk about topics other than these, then there won’t be any conversation to be had.”
If the sale to Audi was rejected, Brown said the choice of engine McLaren will use from 2026 remains a totally separate topic.
“We are not considering a McLaren buyout, but it is up to Andreas (Seidl) to decide which power unit he wants for our car,” he said.
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