Audi’s parent company, the Volkswagen Group , has preparations well under way for the manufacturer and its sister brand, Porsche, to enter Formula 1 from 2026.
While the Stuttgart firm appears keen to tie up with Red Bull, Audi’s plans are less certain as they weigh their options. The company has held talks with McLaren, and one of the possibilities was to acquire the entire group, causing the Woking team to change hands to be a new factory team.
Audi’s entry could have led to a scenario where the McLaren nomenclature disappeared from grands prix altogether, but ahead of the Miami Grand Prix British chief executive Zak Brown made it clear that they are in Formula One. 1 to stay, so there will be no sale at the signing of the four rings.
Asked by Motorsport.com if there was a possibility of a takeover by Audi, Brown said: “No, no, our shareholders are very committed to McLaren.
“We have had conversations with Audi and we are not for sale,” the American clarified. “We are very committed to our future and we are doing very well on the track.”
“Shareholders are making significant investments to give our team the resources we need to get back on top, and commercially we’re doing very well,” Brown said.
“The morale of the group is very good, we have no interest in selling. We are McLaren, that is what we are going to continue to be, and we are going to continue being the owners of the racing team,” assured the Woking boss.
Brown’s confidence in the future of McLaren is based on the improving financial situation, which has taken a radical turn after a liquidity crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In particular, it cites the 185 million dollars (about 175 million euros in exchange) that the investor MSP Sports Capital contributes to have a more solid base and make decisions with their own interests.
“We’re in a good position, and we haven’t been in a good position for 18 months,” he said. “MSP Sports Capital came and invested, and everyone knew the situation we were in now seems like a long time ago, especially considering today.”
“Our conditions for any partnership would be that we retain ownership of the racing team, and if anyone wants to talk about anything other than that, then there will be no talks,” he said.
But while a sale to Audi has been ruled out, Brown says the decision on which engine McLaren will use from 2026 remains a separate issue: “We’re not going to consider a purchase, but it’s up to Andreas [Seidl] to decide which power unit power wants in the rear of the car.
