McLaren launch: Engine "completely problem free" despite Mercedes concerns

McLaren

McLaren launch: Engine "completely problem free" despite Mercedes concerns

Mercedes warned of power unit issues last week

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Monday 15 February 2021 20:45 Updated: 21:20

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McLaren has confirmed its integration of the new Mercedes power unit has been "completely problem-free" ahead of the new Formula 1 season so far despite the supplier's own concerns.

Mercedes-AMG High-Performance Powertrains managing director Hywel Thomas last week cited "issues" with the engines in development, although expects any problems to be ironed out before the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix at the end of March.

Despite Thomas' worries, McLaren has yet to come across difficulties of its own ahead of the launch of its MCL35M that took place on Monday evening, with the team reuniting with Mercedes after a seven-year break

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"To date, we have performed testing on a dyno and we have been completely problem-free," confirmed technical director James Key.

"But I would say Mercedes is definitely the best to answer that [about the specific issue].”

The two parties have reunited after severing ties at the end of the 2014 season when then McLaren boss Ron Dennis decided it was in the team's best interests to stop competing with a 'customer' supply of engines.

McLaren then endured a disastrous three-season partnership with Honda before turning to Renault for another three years, culminating in third place last season in the constructors' championship last season.

Now reunited with Mercedes, current team principal Andreas Seidl is resolute about the team's prospects given the changes in regulations surrounding the relationship between supplier and customer since the initial split.

“The target for us was clear, we wanted to get a championship-winning power unit at the back of our car," said Seidl.

"I think with how the regulations are worded nowadays, they ensure that you get exactly the same treatment as the works team and we have a lot of trust in that regards to Mercedes.

"It depends on what way the FIA is policing this regulation and making sure the regulation is fulfilled.

"I think the FIA has made a great step in monitoring the different power units and how they get used by different teams.

"We are definitely convinced that we are in a position, we are there as a team, that a Mercedes power unit can help us to win races again in the future, definitely.

"But at the same time, it is important to make sure we are focused on ourselves, we have a long way to go.

"On the team side, we are happy with the progress we have made over the last two years.

"But there are still a lot of things we need to get in place first on the infrastructure side and the team side before we actually battle for race wins again.”