Formula 1

McLaren's Mercedes power unit switch to be "very closely" monitored by the FIA

The Woking-based team now face "restrictions" due to changes to 2021 regulations

Ian Parkes

Friday 17 April 2020 10:00

McLaren's switch to the Mercedes power unit for 2021 is to be "very closely" monitored by the FIA.

McLaren had planned for the changeover from the Renault system to coincide with wide-sweeping regulations changes that were due to come into force for next season.

The new rules, though, have been put on hold until 2022 to financially help teams facing arguably the biggest crisis in F1's history due to the global lockdown being imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, with this year's cars to be used again next season.

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It means McLaren will now have to integrate the Mercedes power unit into the design of this year's car once whatever campaign unfolds comes to an end, with the FIA keeping a close eye on the situation to ensure no secondary gains are made from the switch.

McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl said: "It's a change of plan now for us because we had planned to integrate the Mercedes power unit into the new car with the 2021 regulations. Obviously it's a different situation now.

"For sure, there will be restrictions in terms of how good we can integrate this power unit into the current car.

"We have a great relationship with the FIA, that they will monitor very closely that we are only allowed to do the changes that are absolutely necessary to install the Mercedes power unit.

"They will monitor closely that we don't touch any of the areas in the surroundings of the power unit that will give us, let's say, additional performance gains, which we fully understand and agree to.

"In the end, we need to look at the bigger picture, which is we need to agree - and we also support - this freezing [of the rules] that is happening at the moment because that ensures maximum cost-saving for this year."

Seidl insists that should the season run into January, as has been mooted to accommodate as many races as possible, that will not have any effect on the contracts it has in place with Renault and Mercedes.

"If that happens, that we are going racing in January, I don't think there will be any issue regarding our agreement we have with Renault," said Seidl.

McLaren's Mercedes power unit switch to be "very closely" monitored by the FIARead more

"It's important to state we have a great relationship there, an open and transparent relationship, so I don't see any issue."

Seidl claims that while there will naturally be difficulties with the switch, there is no backing out of the move to Mercedes.

"I don't think it can be done in the most efficient way because there are some restrictions," added Seidl.

"Why we're doing the switch? We have contracts in place, and there is no reason why we don't continue with that plan."