McLaren expecting Porsche F1 tie-in with Red Bull

The VW Group is understood to be weighing up an F1 programme under the new power unit regulations set to be introduced in 2026, with a potential entry the subject of much speculation in recent months. 

McLaren moved to strongly deny claims last November that it had agreed a deal to be purchased by German manufacturer Audi, which is part of the VW Group.

Brown confirmed McLaren held exploratory talks with the VW Group but stressed his team is committed to current engine supplier Mercedes as part of a long-term agreement that runs “until at least the 2024 season”. 

He suggested the WV Group is likely to enter F1 in a collaboration with Red Bull. 

“I'm hearing they are going to do something with Red Bull on the Porsche front,” Brown said. “They've spoken with a handful of people on the grid, and as you would imagine, we had conversations.

“But in the short term and medium term we are very happy where we are. So we're going to just wait and see are they going to come into the sport, because that's not been definitively decided.

“If they do, we have a contract through this term and naturally we're going to evaluate where we are and take a decision on what we do in 2026 in due course.”

Despite Honda’s official exit from F1 at the end of last season, the Japanese manufacturer will continue to closely support the two Red Bull-owned teams for the upcoming 2022 campaign. 

The new Red Bull Powertrains Division will then take full control of Honda’s power unit supply from 2023 until the end of the current engine cycle.