Can Mercedes take McLaren back to the top of Formula One?

There is always a sense of déjà vu about headlines at McLaren; whether it’s announcing their driver line-ups or the rekindling of a former engine partnership. Not always though have they been very pleasant.

It was announced ahead of the Russian Grand Prix that McLaren would once again take supply of Mercedes-Benz power-units, re-establishing another previous partnership in the British team’s history – having yielded three driver’s championships and a constructor’s crown in 20 years.

Déjà vu for any follower of Formula One and McLaren, given that only in 2015 saw the start of a tumultuous reunion between the former world champions and Honda, with whom they garnered great success in the late 80s and early 90s.

Even though McLaren will see out their current supply deal with the underwhelming Renault and won’t become a Mercedes-Benz customer until 2021, there is plenty to be optimistic looking at the future and a lot has to do with the changes in the present.

Hailed have the changes in McLaren’s management structure, with a complete clear out of the hierarchy which oversaw their transition into Formula One’s hybrid era and relationship with Honda.

In its place, McLaren chief Zak Brown has installed a more transparent structure and employed top personnel such as Andreas Seidl and James Key.

Results in 2019 speak volumes to about McLaren’s overhaul, having for the first time since 2014 scored 100-points between Briton Lando Norris and Spaniard Carlos Sainz – as well as leading their current engine supplier Renault in the battle for fourth in the constructor’s championship.

So why then are McLaren changing their engine supplier for a third time in seven years and will it take them further than where they currently sit?

Where to now for McLaren? (AAP Image/Dave Acree)

It is hard to recall the time in which this once great outfit was the benchmark for Formula One and was a regular race winner and championship contender. While it has been a slow process to turn their fortunes around, the next step for McLaren is to return to the front of the field.

This may be a customer arrangement between McLaren and Mercedes, though the team believes this should not deter them from making another step forward, when the new regulations for Formula One are introduced in 2021.

“I’m very confident that Mercedes supplies – you can look at all the telemetry and you can see it’s clear that – what’s in Mercedes’ grand prix car is the same that’s in Williams and the Racing Point car so if we do a very good job with our team, execute and the drivers do a good job,” said McLaren boss Brown.

Mercedes’ boss in Toto Wolff meanwhile acknowledged that McLaren could be a threat to them in 2021.

“There is one risk in this: that is if McLaren do a good job they will push us hard and maybe benchmark us in a way to say ‘ok we are on the same power, you guys are not doing a good enough job’ but where we are now after seven years in the hybrid era we feel we are ready for that step,” he stated.

Regardless of said risk, there is still much for the Mercedes side of the relationship to take benefit from; financially through extra revenue, politically through having an extra customer to stand with them – especially heading to the next set of regulations in 2021 and technically with the sharing of vital development data.

Mercedes have fallen behind rivals Ferrari in 2019 as having the benchmark power-unit and while it isn’t possible for McLaren to have a Ferrari powered race car – the mighty AMG motor was the best choice for the Woking team.

In short then, McLaren’s path to a successful future has been laid out with Mercedes-Benz powering them and while they’ve shown encouraging signs of rebuilding their organisation and race team – the proof will be in their 2021 results, to show whether this isn’t just another unpleasant déjà vu.