Honda split needed before McLaren deal - Wolff

Toto Wolff insists Mercedes will not agree a deal with McLaren over a future power unit supply unless it has ended its relationship with Honda.

The McLaren-Honda partnership has become increasingly strained over recent weeks following further criticism of the Japanese manufacturer from McLaren executive director Zak Brown. While initial discussions between Mercedes and McLaren took place earlier this year, Wolff says he would rather see a clear resolution to McLaren's current situation before he would be willing to agree a deal.

"There's quite some momentum in the market at the moment, which we watch from the sidelines," Wolff said at the FIA Sport Conference in Geneva. "This is a position we have put ourselves in because the most important thing is that Honda performs, stays in the sport and has a good deal with its customer teams or works teams. We wouldn't want to interfere at that stage, that is our priority.

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"[Supplying McLaren next year] is not our priority at the moment. First we would like to see Honda and McLaren sorting out their relationship."

When it was suggested to Wolff that McLaren and Honda were investigating the possibility of divorce, the Mercedes boss – who also said supplying an additional team would be feasible – reiterated any future deal would only be possible if a split was agreed.

"If you are being considered as the new bride you want the couple to divorce first before you jump into the bed ... We tried her out for 20 years...

"The main priority is for Honda to stay in the sport and for Honda to have a functioning relationship with its customers. That's why at the moment we do not wish to dive into this topic."

Honda is currently contracted to remain as partner to McLaren in 2018 while also adding Sauber as a customer team, although the latter deal was agreed with team principal Monisha Kaltenborn, who left her role on Wednesday.