FIA to 'closely monitor' McLaren engine switch to Mercedes

McLaren F1 boss Andreas Seidl says the team will work under the scrutiny of the FIA to ensure its engine switch to Mercedes power for next season does not alter the basic design of its chassis.

The Woking-based outfit will end its two-year partnership with Renault at the end of the year and renew its alliance with Mercedes, the manufacturer that powered McLaren to countless wins between 1997 and 2012.

However, Formula 1's decision to extend the use of this year's chassis designs into 2021 to help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus crisis complicates matters for McLaren as its MCL36 will require a few significant changes to accommodate the layout of its new power unit.

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But Seild insists the adjustments will be done under the watchful eye of the FIA to make sure the changes do not deliver "additional performance gains" to McLaren's chassis.

"For sure there will be restrictions in terms of how good we can integrate this power unit into the current car," said the McLaren boss.

"We have agreed together with the FIA that they will monitor very closely that we are only allowed to do the changes that are absolutely necessary to install the Mercedes power unit.

"So they will monitor closely that we don't touch any other areas in the surroundings of the power unit which will give us, let's say, additional performance gains.

"We fully understand and we agreed to this also, because in the end we need to look at the bigger picture. That is, we need to agree and we support all this freezing that is happening at the moment.

"Because again, as I said before, that ensures maximum cost saving for everyone for this year."

The current disruption of the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 crisis could lead to F1 racing into January of next year. This would obviously imply a prolongation of the collaboration with Renault.

"If that really happens, that we are going racing in January, I don't think that there will be any issue regarding our agreement we have with Renault," insisted Seidl.

"I think it's important to state also we have a great relationship there and an open and transparent relationship for this year. So, I don't see an issue."

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