engines in the next cycle of engine regulations. FIA president
Mohammed Ben Sulayem has proposed the scheme for 2031, but has
suggested it could be introduced as early as 2030. The current set
of engine regulations introduced this year has drawn some criticism
from a number of drivers due to how the power unit needs to be
managed to extract pace. But as chat mounts over the next cycle,
Brown has admitted he is liking what he is hearing so far.
“Ultimately we need to defer to them [Mercedes, McLaren’s engine
supplier] on the technology side,” Brown told media including
RacingNews365 . “But I think everything that we’re hearing from the
president about a V8, bigger ICE, the right fuel, less battery,
[less] hybrid, [more] sound – all that sounds good. “My technical
skills don’t go far beyond that, but I think that sounds like a
great direction to try.” McLaren has never built its own F1 engine
during its 60-year history in the sport. However, Brown has
suggested McLaren could change its approach if such a project looks
feasible. “We just have to wait and see what the regulations
are,” he added. “If we find them interesting, then we’ll maybe take
a look, but until then, you know what we know as far as what the
future may hold. “It’d be a distraction at this point to do
anything other than focus on where we are today and what we intend
to be in the future.”