Mar.7 (GMM) Martin Whitmarsh has refused to rule out McLaren building its own engine to race in formula one.

The Woking based outfit has produced its own 3.8 litre twin-turbo V8 engine for the new MP4-12C production sports car.

For F1, McLaren still uses Mercedes' field-leading V8, but sweeping new turbo rules will take effect from 2013.

"We are ruling nothing out, because we are an ambitious team," team boss Whitmarsh reportedly told Motor Sport.

"Formula one is the third largest sporting event in the world and the best environment for brands to differentiate.

"But if I'm honest, we have no plans to build more than 4,500 (MP4-12C) units per year.

"Comparing the cost (of producing a F1 engine) with the 4,500, then that's probably not the right business model," Whitmarsh is quoted as saying in German reports.

Whitmarsh, also president of the F1 teams association FOTA, is also quietly critical of F1's new engine rules for 2013.

"If it does not attract any new car manufacturers (to F1), one of the main goals of the new regulations will have been missed," he said.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version