McLaren Formula One team are not up for sale, McLaren team principal Zack Brown has put his foot down with rumours of an Audi partnership. Speaking to Germany’s Manager Magazine, Brown said the McLaren were doing very well as a business and did not have any intention of being bought out by another group, Reuters reported on Saturday, 7 May.

Earlier last week, reports emerged from Europe that Volkswagen Group had decided to enter the Formula One after both Audi and Porsche had convinced their parent group that the deals will bring in more money for the German automaker. Volkswagen are looking to compete with their national rival Mercedes in the top most racing category in the world.

“Our shareholders are very committed to McLaren. We did have conversations with Audi and we’re not for sale,” said the former racing driver.

“Commercially we’re doing really well. Morale in the team is really good. We don’t have any interest in selling the racing team,” Brown said.

“We won’t consider a buy-out of McLaren,” he added. “It’s up to (team principal) Andreas (Seidl) to decide what power unit he wants in the back of the racing car but any conversation around buying McLaren is a non-starter.”
Audi and Porsche have put forward their interest in joining the sport, but Reuters reported last week that Porsche had a much more concrete plan for Red Bull than Audi had with McLaren.

“Our terms for any partnership would be we retain ownership of the racing team and if anyone wants to have a conversation that is different than that, then there’s no conversation to be had,” he said.
“We’re McLaren Formula One, that’s what we’re going to remain That’s our starting point and the conversation wouldn’t get any further than that.

McLaren are currently using Mercedes power unit, one that has struggled in the first three seasons of the current calendar. However, Lando Norris showed in the Italian Grand Prix that McLaren have improved a lot since their first race in Bahrain. McLaren would be hoping to do well in the inaugural Miami GP, with the likes of Daniel Ricciardo and Norris at the helm.