McLaren focused on staying with Mercedes

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - McLaren calmed talk of a switch to Honda Formula One engines after 2012 on Wednesday by saying that they were fully focused on continuing their partnership with Mercedes.

German magazine Auto motor und sport reported last week that McLaren were considering reviving their former partnership with Honda, who pulled out of the sport at the end of 2008, once their deal for free Mercedes engines expired.

It quoted an unnamed senior Honda manager in Suzuka saying everything was technically ready for the company to become an engine provider again but management had yet to approve anything.

"That is all wide of the mark," McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale told reporters in a phone-in ahead of the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix when asked about the speculation.

"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."

Mercedes sold their stake in McLaren after buying the 2009 championship-winning Brawn team and renaming it Mercedes GP. They have yet to win a race since then.

The deal allowed McLaren free engines until the end of 2012 and then a supply until at least 2015 at the going rate of around 8 million euros ($10.8 million) a year.

Mercedes also supply Force India with engines.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ed Osmond; For Reuters sports blog Left Field go to: http://blogs.reuters.com/sport)