F1 » Force India F1 confirm McLaren-Mercedes link-up

When I watched final round of the DTM Championship from Hockenheim on Motors TV, messers Cole and Kirby said that there was a possibility that Di Resta may get a shot in Formula 1 with McLaren or another team, but I reckon with Mercedes doing a customer deal with Force India it may get an opportunity to take the seat when Fischella retires.

So, what does this mean for customer cars then? It seems to me that it McLaren are supplying the engine, drive train and KERS, this makes it practically the McLaren B team.

So, last year the FIA basically told Dave Richards and Prodrive to go away, and one year on, they say OK to VJ. Don't they like DR or what?

Calvin_ - ForceF1 in its previous avtaar, Midland/Spyker along with Williams had been very vocal against customer car. The Old Concorde agreement strictly expected teams to develop their own chassis, they could get engine from suppliers. STR and Super Aguri still broke that rule and go through. DR had walked in "Assuming" that he can do Super Aguri or STR but Williams/Spyker resistance shooed him away.
Spyker/Midland/ForceF1 went quiet on their opposition after meeting with Red Bull Baron at Monaco'08. That leave only Williams to effectively block any moves, thats too weak a opposition.
And now rest of the teams can support customer cars in new concorde.
Thats F1 for you Inconsistent

surely Prodrive were going to use a complete McLaren car re-painted rather than the whole drive-train a la Force F1

At the end of the day, they are building their own chassis, therefore they are a constructor in their own right. Williams, Reb Bull, Torro Rosso have manufacturer 'support' but they build their own gearboxes or, if they wished, could source them either from or independently of the F1 manufacturers.
DR effectively wanted to 'borrow' the whole package, chassis and all. In my opinion, the difference is quite apparent.

Already looks like a McLaren anyway