McLaren F1 to buy BMW F1 Engine ops

McLaren are poised to buy BMW’s F1 engine building operation in a move to end the relationship with Mercedes.

The relationship between Mercedes and McLaren has been a successful one. For almost fifteen years they have collaborated with great success both in F1 and with the Mercedes McLaren SLR. But the marriage has been one more of convenience than passion in recent years. Rocked by the Spygate scandal – which lead to Ron Dennis distancing himself from McLaren’s F1 operations – and pushed closer to divorce by Mercedes’ decision to make the replacement for the SLR – the SLS AMG Gullwing – in-house, the rumour gaining credence this weekend that McLaren is up for buying BMW’s F1 engine operations will see the decree nisi being issued.

BMW are quitting F1 at the end of this season, and the Sauber team is up for sale. But the engine operations are not part of the deal. So it’s starting to look as if McLaren are looking to buy up the engine side from BMW and become a completely independent F1 car builder – just like Ferrari.

Which could work well for both McLaren and Mercedes. Mercedes could concentrate their efforts on Brawn and McLaren could be what they really want – completely independent in F1.

The plan would fit in well with McLaren’s aim to become the ‘British Ferrari’ They already have hugely ambitious plans to build a range of road-going supercars – the first, the MP4-12C, was revealed recently – and gaining the ability to build it’s engines in-house is a big step in that direction.

As we say – just rumour at the moment. But strong rumour.

Source: F1 Live