McLaren warn of quitting F1 as 2021 decision looms

Zak Brown has warned that McLaren may be forced to consider a future away from Formula 1 if crunch talks over the 2021 regulations do not sit well with them this week. Only Ferrari have competed in, and won, more grands prix than McLaren – a fixture on the F1 grid for more than 50 years.

Liberty Media will formally present pans for new regulations, to be introduced in two years' time, to the sport's teams this week.

F1's owners have made grand promises surrounding improving the spectacle on-track and also bolstering the financial stability of the sport – chiefly by introducing a budget cap, which has been met with opposition among some of the bigger outfits on the grid.

McLaren CEO Brown has routinely backed Liberty's future vision, but says one of F1's most famous names could depart if the new rules do not meet their expectations.

"For McLaren it has to tick two boxes: to be financially viable and to be able to fight fairly and competitively," Brown told The Observer.

"If it wasn't that, we would seriously have to consider our position in F1. That's not a position we want to be in.

"People throw it out there as a negotiating tactic but this has to be a fiscally responsible, competitive racing team and, if we feel the new rules don't put us in that situation, we would have to review our participation in F1."

Brown called on F1's prize money to be distributed based more on performance and on-track achievements, rather than the existing model, which also factors in how long a team has been on the grid.

The American believes greater financial parity would make the series more compelling.

"Once it is levelled, that should accelerate everyone's competitiveness," he added.

"F1 has had dominant periods but a great F1 is no one dominates any more. It might mean a team winning two championships on the trot – not five or six."

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