McLaren voice support for major F1 change

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has issued his support for the return of V8 engines in the next cycle of engine regulations.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has proposed the scheme for 2031, but has suggested it could be introduced as early as 2030.

The current set of engine regulations introduced this year has drawn some criticism from a number of drivers due to how the power unit needs to be managed to extract pace.

But as chat mounts over the next cycle, Brown has admitted he is liking what he is hearing so far.

“Ultimately we need to defer to them [Mercedes, McLaren's engine supplier] on the technology side,” Brown told media including RacingNews365.

“But I think everything that we're hearing from the president about a V8, bigger ICE, the right fuel, less battery, [less] hybrid, [more] sound - all that sounds good. 

“My technical skills don't go far beyond that, but I think that sounds like a great direction to try.”

McLaren has never built its own F1 engine during its 60-year history in the sport.

However, Brown has suggested McLaren could change its approach if such a project looks feasible.

“We just have to wait and see what the regulations are,” he added.

“If we find them interesting, then we'll maybe take a look, but until then, you know what we know as far as what the future may hold.

“It'd be a distraction at this point to do anything other than focus on where we are today and what we intend to be in the future.”