McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown says his team has had conversations with Audi about the Volkswagen Group’s possible entry into Formula 1, and believes Porsche will also join a partnership with Red Bull.

The VW Group has been linked with a move to F1 on several occasions and representatives of both brands are known to have shown keen interest in discussions regarding future powertrain regulations. Those rules are set to come into play in 2026, and Brown believes at least one of the two iconic names is likely to come in, but McLaren is in no rush to decide its own future.

“I hear they’re going to do something with Red Bull on the Porsche front,” Brown said. “I think they have spoken with a handful of people on the grid, and as you would imagine we are having conversations, but in the short to medium term we are very happy with where we are.

“So we’re just going to wait and see if they’re going to come into the sport – because I don’t think that’s been decided definitively – and if they do, we have a contract until that term. Naturally, we will assess where we are and who is in the sport and make a decision for 2026 in due course.”

McLaren only returned to working with Mercedes at the start of last season after stints with Honda and Renault, the announcement at the time stating that it would be a partnership until “at least the season 2024”.

RACER understands that initial discussions have taken place between Porsche and Red Bull, and Brown’s comments come after Honda’s withdrawal from Formula 1, as Christian Horner’s team takes over the Japanese manufacturer’s intellectual property under its new company. of Red Bull Powertrains power units. This could provide a ready-made entity for a future manufacturer to purchase as part of a new entry, although at this stage the new regulations have yet to be finalized.