Toto Wolff says Mercedes/McLaren partnership is "not the start of a works deal"

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has insisted the German manufacturer's new engine supply contract with British side McLaren is "not the start of a works deal".

McLaren has dropped Renault as their engine supplier for the 2021 season and will return to Mercedes power for the foreseeable future after that. McLaren become the third Formula 1 team to use the Mercedes power, alongside Williams and Racing Point.

Wolff is desperate to point out that McLaren will not become Mercedes' works representative once again when the two sides merge together in 2021.

"For us, it was important to make clear that there is a works team today, and this is a customer power unit relationship, and not the start of a works deal and us not being there anymore," the Mercedes boss said to Motorsport.com.

Renault has now been dropped as a power unit supplier, by firstly Red Bull Racing at the start of the current season and now the news that McLaren has dropped the French manufacturer; meaning Renault F1 Team are the only side left to use their own power units.