McLaren Powered by...McLaren?

[emjaya]

The hottest rumour at the Suzuka circuit on Saturday is that McLaren is contemplating splitting completely with Mercedes at the end of the season.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that the Woking-based team's plan, masterminded by chairman and former team boss Ron Dennis, is to buy BMW's Formula One engine division from the withdrawing German carmaker in order to go it alone as an independent chassis and engine constructor.


http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/091003110722.shtml

:\

[opinionated ow]

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/091003110722.shtml

:\

I think Bruce would have been proud. Then they can go back to being orange! :D

[pchall]

Interesting. That could keep Sauber in in the game as well...

[oddlycalm]

Big news indeed considering that Benz has a significant ownership position in McLaren. Another issue that seems rather thorny is the fact that BMW's F1 engine engineers are BMW employees not Sauber. They rely heavily on other BMW company resources like the Rapid Prototyping/Tooling Technology department. Bottom line is it is not a discrete division that would be easy to pluck out and relocate.

If there weren't a freeze on engine development this would likely be impossible instead of just incredibly ambitious.

oc

[Rogue Leader]

Dennis must have fallen and hit his head. Where he thought this was a good idea we will never know....