The McLaren team has insisted that it is committed to their current partnership with Mercedes-Benz, despite recent rumours suggesting that the team is preparing to link up with a fresh Honda Formula One engine bid.
Recent reports from the F1 media have claimed that Honda is planning to return to Formula One as an engine supplier, after withdrawing from the sport at the end of the 2008 season.McLaren were the team earmarked as being the most likely to form a new alliance with Honda, with the Woking squad having lost their factory Mercedes status at the start of 2010.
McLaren ran with Honda-powered cars during their hugely successful run of four consecutive constructors and drivers titles between 1988 and 1991.
But in the pre-Brazilian GP McLaren phone-in, the team's managing director Jonathan Neale said that there was no truth at all to the Honda rumours, saying that McLaren were "very happy" with their relationship with Mercedes.
"That is all wide of the mark," he muttered unhappily when asked about Honda.
He went on: "We are very happy with and enjoying our partnership with Mercedes-Benz. We are not quite sure where that story came from in truth.
"But I can stop the rumour and say that we are entirely focused on our Mercedes-Benz relationship. It is a long one spanning many wins and championships and long may it continue."
He also said that McLaren had no concerns over running as a customer outfit now the German marque has established their own works team, saying that the key to success in F1 was consistency.
"Of course Mercedes have their own team and it is right and proper that a degree of focus is going in that direction," he rambled.
"I have just been talking this morning to Thomas Fuhr at Mercedes-Benz - we speak frequently - and we want the same thing."
He added: "It's in our interest to have a consistent engine. Thomas was pleased Mercedes got six cars in the top ten in qualifying on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
"They take real pleasure and delight in that, as they should. And of course we like to beat them all as well, so that worked well for us. They are formidable technical partners and we enjoy that relationship."
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