Toto Wolff joked that his decision to supply McLaren with Mercedes engines no longer seems like his most \u201cintelligent choice\u201d.<\/p>\n
That is because McLaren<\/a> has enjoyed a remarkable rise over recent years to become the leading force in Formula 1, powered by a Mercedes engine.<\/p>\n Has Mercedes supplying engines to McLaren backfired?<\/p>\n McLaren had used the Mercedes engine from 1995-2014, but after a failed Honda reunion and short stint with Honda power, McLaren and Mercedes reunited in time for the 2021 campaign, Daniel Ricciardo that year claiming victory at Monza.<\/p>\n But it has been in recent years under the leadership of team principal Andrea Stella that McLaren has made serious progress, the team going from the back of the grid in 2023, to 2024 Constructors\u2019 Champions, while the 2025 Drivers\u2019 and Constructors\u2019 title double is looking inevitable.<\/p>\n Mercedes meanwhile, as the works team, has won just six grands prix since Formula 1 introduced its ground effect regulations in 2022.<\/p>\n Wolff is an extremely successful businessman and as Mercedes F1 team boss and one-third owner, led the team on a run of eight Constructors\u2019 titles in a row, also featuring seven Drivers\u2019 crowns between 2014-21. But, with McLaren now flying the flag highest for Mercedes power, Wolff joked this partnership was not his smartest move.<\/p>\n Quizzed by Sky Italia on McLaren thriving with the Mercedes engine, Wolff said: \u201cThat\u2019s also hard for me to explain.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at where they were three, four years ago, when we signed the deal with them that they were going to use our fast engines for the next few years. Then they were 18th and it was easy to make such a decision.<\/p>\n \u201cWith the knowledge of today, I don\u2019t know if it was the most intelligent choice in my life to make that deal with them [laughs].<\/p>\n \u201cThey have it really well together in terms of engineering and that\u2019s why they perform so insanely well, especially in hot conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n More on F1 engines from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 F1 engines: Which power unit manufacturer does each F1 team use?<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 F1 2026: Confirmed teams and power unit suppliers for F1\u2019s huge regulation changes<\/a><\/p>\n