Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has stated that McLaren should develop its own Formula 1 engine. Steiner’s comments come as McLaren navigates performance challenges during the current 2026 season. He suggested that the Woking-based outfit should cease attributing performance deficits to its power unit supplier.
Steiner emphasized that McLaren, as a car manufacturer, possesses the capability to produce its own engine. He highlighted a pattern of McLaren pointing to engine suppliers when performance declines, referencing past associations with Honda and Renault.
McLaren is currently powered by Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) under an agreement that extends until the end of the 2030 season. This partnership, renewed in November 2023, positioned McLaren as the first customer for the new 2026 power unit regulations.
Despite securing both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in 2024 and the constructors’ title in 2025, McLaren has not achieved a Grand Prix victory in the 2026 season. The team currently trails the Mercedes works team significantly in the championship standings.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella acknowledged a performance deficit in extracting the maximum potential from the Mercedes HPP power unit. Stella indicated that GPS data reveals performance is being left unutilized. He noted that McLaren’s understanding of the new power unit is at an earlier stage compared to the works team.
The 2026 power unit regulations mandate a 50% internal combustion and 50% electrical power split. These units feature a single 350 kW electric motor, nearly three times more powerful than the previous MGU-K. Development for these new units commenced in mid-2022.
McLaren is scheduled to introduce Mercedes’ latest power unit specification at the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix. This upgrade, primarily focused on reliability, was previously deployed by the Mercedes works team in Austria. Alpine and Williams, also Mercedes customers, received the upgrade at Silverstone.
McLaren’s delay in adopting the upgrade was attributed to having sufficient mileage remaining on its existing power units. The team also faced earlier reliability issues this season, including battery failures that prevented both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri from starting the Chinese Grand Prix.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown stated in May 2026 that the team would consider manufacturing its own engine if a future Formula 1 engine formula proved financially viable and technologically appropriate. This consideration was mentioned in the context of potential rule changes, such as a move to V8 engines by 2030 or 2031, as suggested by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
However, Brown also expressed satisfaction with the current Mercedes partnership. Steiner highlighted the significant financial investment and personnel requirements involved in establishing an F1 engine manufacturing operation.
