McLaren approaches Mercedes for engine supply!

McLaren has apparently touched base with Mercedes, and inquired about the possibility of using the German manufacturer's power unit should Honda fail to resolve its engine problems.

Poor reliability coupled with lousy performance have dogged McLaren's pre-season efforts, with the Woking-based outfit looking to start the season in Australia on the back foot.

McLaren and Honda's current contract runs until 2024 and while McLaren executive Zak Brown believed  the partnership would be made to work and continue until its full term, another poor season would most probably break the relationship once and for all.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is said to be open to working with its former partner although the recent contact between the two parties has been characterized as brief and informal.

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Given the importance of its contract with Honda, estimated to be worth $100 million annually in addition to what the Japanese company pitches in for the team's driver salaries, McLaren will be thinking long and hard before changing engine suppliers.

But carrying on with the team's current state of affairs would also lead to inevitable consequences.

For starters, another non-competitive year without any clear resolution for the future would seriously complicate Zak Brown's efforts to secure a title sponsor for 2018.

Secondly, Fernando Alonso would certainly jump ship and search for greener pastures elsewhere.

"He wants to be competitive because he has talent to show the world and to himself," Said Mcmaren racing director Eric Boullier last week.

"And we need to be competitive to keep him happy.  If we're competitive he'll be happy and if not he'll take his own decisions."

This is McLaren's conundrum, in a nutshell!

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