It is now official that Mercedes has reached an agreement with McLaren to become its engine supplier from 2021. The two parties are on an extendable 3-year deal, after the Woking-based team announced that it is not going to continue with Renault after 2020. McLaren-Mercedes will be back in business after 7 years.

“Renault has been instrumental to our Formula 1 recovery plan and a fantastic partner to McLaren Racing. Despite its understandable focus on its factory team, Renault has always been fair, consistent and transparent in our relationship and we thank the whole team at Viry for the excellent service provided to McLaren in F1 over the past two years. Of course, we enter the final year of our relationship in 2020 and are focused on continuing our challenge together of closing the performance gap to the front of the field” said Zak Brown, commenting on the end of the deal between McLaren and Renault.

The French manufacturer will therefore have no customers after 2020 and will focus solely on its 2021 campaign, in which it has been investing since 2016. McLaren went through hard times during its Honda stint and decided to interrupt their relationship back in September 2017 and started a 3-year spell with Renault as PU supplier. The Woking-based outfit has been building up on an ongoing recovery process, as a comprehensive team restructuring has been operated since the end of 2018.

Zak Brown furtherly discussed the new beginning with Mercedes, as the two iconic brands that have a long history together are becoming partners once again.

“This agreement is an important step in our long-term plan to return to success in F1. Mercedes is the benchmark, both as a team and a power unit, so it is natural we would seek to secure a relationship with the company for the next phase of our journey. This announcement reflects the confidence of our shareholders and is an important message to our investors, employees, partners and fans that we are committed to returning McLaren to the front of the field.”

Toto Wolff also praises McLaren’s gains over the past few years: “Although the two brands share a prestigious history, this new agreement is all about looking to the future and beginning a new era of power unit supply for the seasons ahead. McLaren have been putting in place the building blocks of the revival over recent seasons, including impressive performances this season with Renault power.”
https://www.motorlat.com/notas/f1/13083/russian-gp-four-talking-points-from-friday