Who will supply McLaren engines after 2015?

[dpbird90]

So, we know Merc agreed to carry on supplying McLaren with engines until 2015, but we don't know after that, so what do you guys reckon? Will they continue with Merc? Will McLaren say sod it, we can build our own? Could they switch to one of the current suppliers? Or maybe entice one of the "old" engine manufacturers back (I like the sound of McLaren & Honda getting back together, or maybe they could remind BMW how successful the F1 roadcar was with their engine?). Maybe if the VW group finally enter F1 (I'd bet as Audi, its logical. They've done touring cars, rallying, and Le Mans, so F1 is the next step) they'd jump at the chance? Or maybe even Porsche might have a crack at it? (didn't include them in VW group as I can never keep track of which one owns which)

Over to you

[Frik]

Does this need a survey? I thought it was well known that McLaren would be supplying their own engines, like in their road cars.

[dpbird90]

Frik said:

Does this need a survey? I thought it was well known that McLaren would be supplying their own engines, like in their road cars.

Ah right, I thought they hadn't decided for definite?

[NewMetalSystem]

Really?
Are we this low on f1 news stories, that we've started speculating about something that'll happen in five years time?

[dpbird90]

NewMetalSystem said:

Really?
Are we this low on f1 news stories, that we've started speculating about something that'll happen in five years time?

No, I'm just curious

[AndrewW-G]

McLaren are postitioning themselves to be like Ferrari, therefore, the only way to go is to build their own F1 motors

[zac510]

They'll use whichever engine they can get for free

[TheArchitect]

My understanding was theyll use there own, although a lot could change in 5 years, IMO itll be theyll provide there own or continue with merc 'if' merc are providing good enough engines.

[PabloTeK]

As I said on MSN Dan (I'll plonk it here in the public domain), seeing as IndyCar and F1 are likely to see the same engine I reckon Honda could a real bet! Now if only the Indy 500 could have F1 cars in it...

[Alfie Noakes]

There was talk that they might buy the BMW engine facility. But I guess they don't need it yet.

I would think that, at least in the begining, they will get it designed by a consultancy then sub out the manufacture. Possibly subbing the assembly as well.

Ron will no doubt stick the badges on the cam boxes himself!

[zac510]

Is the road car division going to fund the building of these engines?

[cragswinter]

It does sort of make sense if their road cars have mclaren engines then their racing cars should.
Makes the team more "complete"
it's the only way to go for them IMHO

[Mazda Baiter]

zac510 said:

Is the road car division going to fund the building of these engines?

McLaren profits.

So profits from the road cars, from the F1 team, the electronics dept.

It's not as if they don't have the spare cash sitting around to invest. Although I expect they will be getting the same people to build the engines as are building the road car engines.

[dpbird90]

Mazda Baiter said:

zac510 said:

Is the road car division going to fund the building of these engines?

McLaren profits.

So profits from the road cars, from the F1 team, the electronics dept.

It's not as if they don't have the spare cash sitting around to invest. Although I expect they will be getting the same people to build the engines as are building the road car engines.

Wasn't it Mahle doing the MP4/12C engine?

[Mazda Baiter]

dpbird90 said:

Mazda Baiter said:

zac510 said:

Is the road car division going to fund the building of these engines?

McLaren profits.

So profits from the road cars, from the F1 team, the electronics dept.

It's not as if they don't have the spare cash sitting around to invest. Although I expect they will be getting the same people to build the engines as are building the road car engines.

Wasn't it Mahle doing the MP4/12C engine?

Depending on which media outlet you believe, it is either Mahle or Riccardo. Although Mahle own part of Cosworth racing (the F1 engines division) so that could be a lead for a journalist desperate for a story.

McLaren's website might say definitivly whether it is Mahle or Riccardo. Although they have said they will be building them, themselves, onsite.

[ralphrj]

Mahle do not own Cosworth Racing.

Mahle bought Cosworth Technology from VW in 2005. Cosworth Technology was the road engine side of Cosworth that was created when the business was split.

Cosworth Racing was sold to Ford and then subsequently to Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe who now plan to float the company on the stock exchange.

[CampDavid]

It makes most sense, to me, that they buy heavily into Cosworth to get the engine division in place

[Mazda Baiter]

ralphrj said:

Mahle do not own Cosworth Racing.

Mahle bought Cosworth Technology from VW in 2005. Cosworth Technology was the road engine side of Cosworth that was created when the business was split.

Cosworth Racing was sold to Ford and then subsequently to Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe who now plan to float the company on the stock exchange.

You are, of course, correct. McLaren would benefit from owning both parts of Cosworth (racing and technology).

I wonder how much of the engines, in the eighties, TAG had anything to do with? Were they just badged TAG and outsourced?

ie the owner of Techniques d'Avant Garde, Mansour Ojeh(sp), owns a large stake in McLaren.

[dpbird90]

Mazda Baiter said:

ralphrj said:

Mahle do not own Cosworth Racing.

Mahle bought Cosworth Technology from VW in 2005. Cosworth Technology was the road engine side of Cosworth that was created when the business was split.

Cosworth Racing was sold to Ford and then subsequently to Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe who now plan to float the company on the stock exchange.

You are, of course, correct. McLaren would benefit from owning both parts of Cosworth (racing and technology).

I wonder how much of the engines, in the eighties, TAG had anything to do with? Were they just badged TAG and outsourced?

ie the owner of Techniques d'Avant Garde, Mansour Ojeh(sp), owns a large stake in McLaren.

Yep, the TAG engines were built by Porsche

[Mazda Baiter]

dpbird90 said:

Mazda Baiter said:

ralphrj said:

Mahle do not own Cosworth Racing.

Mahle bought Cosworth Technology from VW in 2005. Cosworth Technology was the road engine side of Cosworth that was created when the business was split.

Cosworth Racing was sold to Ford and then subsequently to Kevin Kalkhoven and Gerald Forsythe who now plan to float the company on the stock exchange.

You are, of course, correct. McLaren would benefit from owning both parts of Cosworth (racing and technology).

I wonder how much of the engines, in the eighties, TAG had anything to do with? Were they just badged TAG and outsourced?

ie the owner of Techniques d'Avant Garde, Mansour Ojeh(sp), owns a large stake in McLaren.

Yep, the TAG engines were built by Porsche

I always thought they were developed from Porsches sports car engines and TAG did the development, possibly being built by someone else. But Porsche had no real further input?