Being a works team is less important in F1? 'McLaren put up a fight'

F1 News

Works team less important in F1 Alonso Piastri Hulkenberg
5 August at 07:00
  • Kada Sarkozi
  • Editor

In Formula One, being a works team has always seemed to be more appealing. However, at the moment, there is a customer team looking to have the best car on the grid, as McLaren are making strides to catch up Red Bull Racing in the constructors' standings. Formula One drivers Fernando Alonso, Oscar Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg explain if it is still important to be a works team in the sport.

Alonso shares from experience

As the most experienced driver on the current Formula One grid, Fernando Alonso has driven for works teams including Renault and Ferrari in the past. At the moment, he is competing for a customer team at Aston Martin, who buy their engine from Mercedes. "Probably it is the case now [that it is less important to be a works team] with the budget cap. I think the works team cannot get into an unlimited budget or test programme or things like that. So everything is more regulated now."

Aston Martin will then become a works team come 2026, as they will pair up with Honda, and will the only team the Japanese brand will work with. "But there's still a lot of downsides to not to be a works team. So you can see it both ways probably," Alonso added.

Piastri and Hulkenberg agree

Piastri, currently driving for a Mercedes customer team, McLaren, agreed with the Spaniard: "I don't think you need to be a works team to win an F1. I mean, as Fernando said, I think there's still definitely advantages of being a works team, whether that's from developing the engine how you want it and fitting it into the car exactly how you want, stuff like that. There's always going to be advantages as a works team, but I think now in the cost cap era of F1, I think it's got much less significance than it did. I think you can be a customer team, so to speak, and put up a really strong fight."

Nico Hulkenberg also could just agree with Alonso and the Australian, saying "Sames, same." The German driver will leave Haas F1 at the end of the current season, and will join the Stake F1 team, that will turn into the Audi works team in 2026.