F1 News
McLaren team boss praises the FIA's 'good work': 'Given us opportunities'
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella has thanked the FIA for protecting customer teams in F1. McLaren uses Mercedes power units, and the Papaya team are grateful that customer teams like themselves still have an opportunity to compete with works teams. After Stella helped lead McLaren to their first constructors title since 1998, he took a moment to talk about their powertrain to GPblog and others.
After McLaren won their first constructors title since 1998, team boss Stella was asked in the paddock if he was satisfied to show that customer teams can win world titles. In the past, work teams have always had an advantage. "In itself, it's not particularly satisfying because I think nowadays, thanks to the regulations, thanks to the good work that the FIA have done in terms of creating parity as to the way the engine is used between customer and works teams," Stella began.
'Mercedes listen to our opinions'
"To be honest, we are pretty relaxed that the performance of the customer power units is as good as the works teams. Also, we have a very good relationship with HPP (Mercedes High Performance Powertrains). Very open dialogue, and while we appreciate and acknowledge that ultimately, it's always gonna be Mercedes that will have the final say as to layout, for instance. But I think the dialogue with HPP is good, and we know that they are listening to our opinions," the Italian revealed.
McLaren moved over to Mercedes power units in 2021. Before that, the Woking-based team spent 2018-2020 with Renault after a tumultuous few years with Honda. Since their V6 hybrid debut, Honda has improved drastically and is now one of the strongest engines on the grid. As well as McLaren, Mercedes are the engine supplier to Aston Martin and Williams. From 2026, they will also supply engines to Alpine, who have abandoned their works Renault engine programme.
Stella believes that the FIA 'has protected customer teams'
Supplier teams have been required to provide up-to-date engines which keep their customers competitive since the 2016 season. Stella thanks the FIA for this, praising the relationship that McLaren has built with the Mercedes engine department. "I think the relationship is strong. Once again, I would like to say that this is good work that has happened by the FIA in protecting customer teams so that they could have their opportunities to win races and championships without having to be a works team." He concluded.
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