In a spicy take that's sure to get the F1 paddock talking, former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has thrown down the gauntlet: he believes Toto Wolff and Mercedes should cut off McLaren's engine supply before the Woking-based team becomes an even bigger threat.
McLaren has been powered by Mercedes since 2021, but it wasn't until the second half of 2023 that they truly roared back to life. Fast forward to 2024, and Zak Brown's squad clinched the constructors' championship, followed by a double-title sweep last year. That kind of success has put Mercedes' own chassis performance under a harsh spotlight.
When the current technical regulations kicked in, Mercedes' works team status was supposed to be a golden ticket—deeper knowledge of the new hybrid technology should have given them an edge. Early on, McLaren struggled to extract maximum performance from their Mercedes engines, leading to whispers of tension between the two camps. Some even suggested Mercedes wasn't sharing all the data to protect their own interests.
But oh, how times have changed. McLaren has closed the gap dramatically and now stands as Mercedes' fiercest rival. Just look at Miami: Lando Norris finished second behind Kimi Antonelli after leading a Sprint race one-two for McLaren—Mercedes' first defeat of the season.
Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Steiner didn't mince words. "If I was Toto, I would do that," he said. "It's an easy solution to being beaten: 'I don't give you an engine anymore'."
Steiner pointed out that while regulations require Mercedes to supply engines, they're only obligated to provide for two teams—currently Alpine and Williams. "Toto is a sportsman. He gives his best piece to his biggest opponent. I wouldn't do it!"
He added a touch of irony: "Now that they gave it to them, it would look embarrassing [to take it away]. It was not a good idea to go into the deal in the first place. Nobody thought McLaren would have this resurgence and be strong again."
Of course, any such move wouldn't happen overnight—McLaren's current engine agreement with Mercedes runs through 2030. But off-season reports suggest there are already voices within Mercedes who want to end the partnership before the next cycle of rule changes.
For now, McLaren fans can breathe easy. But if the titles keep rolling in, don't be surprised if the engine supply conversation heats up faster than a set of soft tires on a hot lap.