McLaren has ruled out building its own engine despite its current struggles with partner Honda, with executive director Zak Brown saying it doesn't currently make business sense.
The British team looks set for another tough season, with Honda's completely redesigned power unit failing to deliver the expected power or reliability the team anticipated.
That led to McLaren sounding out Mercedes about a potential mid-season switch, while speculation has also linked McLaren's automotive arm with building its own engine.
Brown however says the latter simply isn't true: "McLaren Automotive is a different business unit with common shareholders who we work very closely with," he is quoted as saying.
"[McLaren Automotive's] engine is a McLaren engine, but the Formula 1 team has a different set of economics and ways to go racing, so that is not a conversation that we've had.
"We are not an engine builder, we are a racing team and a car constructor. What we can do in 10 years, who knows, but that is not a conversation [we have had]."
Brown was also keen to dismiss rumours of a temporary switch back to Mercedes, insisting McLaren's relationship with Honda is "healthy" and that they are both working hard to be competitive "as quickly as possible".
"We are very open with Honda," he added. "I think they've been around the sport long enough, as have we, to not believe everything that you read.
"We are working with them on what is the best way to be competitive as quickly as possible, and then to get back to the ultimate goal of winning the championship together.
"All of our conversations with them have been how do we get out of the situation that we're in, so the relationship is very healthy – we've got a long-term contract."
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