McLaren Honda

andicole0 · 3 Mar 2017 at 12:44

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39151187

Honda now seem to be getting frustrated, whoever said they should have invested in Manor was right. I can see Mclaren in deep trouble this year. At least thay'll have some champagne to cheer themselves up :-)

Andi.

andicole0 · 4 Mar 2017 at 14:27

Slam62 said:
This is very grim for all concerned, I wonder if they will have a decent engine before Ross Brawn changes the rules.

I don't think Ross is in favour of changing things that would incur further massive costs. Staying with the Hybrid system is probably the cheapest way forward.
Andi.

andicole0 · 4 Mar 2017 at 16:46

Steampunk said:
I think most of the engine suppliers have said they will be out if F1 tries to go back to normally aspirated engines. Hybrid and the surrounding tech is useful research for their road divisions. I never understood why Bernie changed things to "save money", cost the teams tens of millions, and just when things were settling down, it would all change again. It's like he never wanted the smaller teams to survive.

Good point.
Andi.

andicole0 · 6 Mar 2017 at 12:47

Duke said:
They fixed the oil tank issue, going by Ted's video last week. I think its a bit much to write them off completely just yet.

The oil tank wasn't fixed, it needs a complete redesign, Mclaren just went slower in testing last week. It sounds like they will have the full race engine this week.
Andi.

andicole0 · 6 Mar 2017 at 12:48

Duke said:
Yeah they wanted to keep the "jewel of an engine - Ron Dennis" to themselves. They should have given them free to Manor in 2015 and kept them a float.

Does anyone know what they are actually talking about that is so funny?

Andi.

andicole0 · 6 Mar 2017 at 17:16

Sounds like he left rather than being given the chop. Honda have never wanted help.
Andi.

andicole0 · 9 Mar 2017 at 12:36

I can't see McLaren getting out of this easily. It's like the Red Bull/Renault fiasco a couple of years ago. I'm not sure any existing engine supplier would be happy to help, finding another supplier will also be pretty difficult.
Andi.

andicole0 · 9 Mar 2017 at 15:53

I think anyone with a link to the VW scandal are not going to be considering an F1 entry. The only viable option I've heard is Alfa Romeo but that would be a Ferrari B team.
Andi.

andicole0 · 16 Mar 2017 at 11:51

MissChief said:
There's now no link between the TAG group that have partial ownership of McLaren and TAG-heuer that have their name on Red Bull's Renault engines.

Isn't the TAG owner Mansour Ojjeh still a 25% share holder?

Also I see McLaren may have approached Mercedes http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39290908.

Andi.

andicole0 · 17 Mar 2017 at 14:25

deuse said:
True.
Honda are building a F1 engine planet here in the UK. So maybe then they will have people who can build a F1 engine?

Wow!
Early reports from Honda were that they wanted the engine to be all Honda designed and built in Japan. Sadly for them the UK is probably the best place to move to. Several engines of similar technology in WEC albeit a bit bigger and with 4WD (I believe).
Andi.

andicole0 · 27 Mar 2017 at 11:36

According to the BBC web site Honda are looking for an engine for McLaren and Alonso won't stay much longer.
I have to wonder who has put the boot in here, has Ron dropped them all in it?
I also have to wonder what Jenson and in fact Stoffel are thinking.
Andi.

andicole0 · 27 Mar 2017 at 11:48

MSTRBKR said:
You mean to say that Honda are looking for an alternative engine to their own for McLaren? Like a Mercedes? If so, wow.

I think if they didn't have to participate in order to retain their participation with the sport, they should just stop until they get a new PU from someone else. It's so damaging to their brands.

Sorry looks like I misread the quote on the BBC from Motorsport.com Honda are trying to supply to other teams, McLaren are looking at other engines.
Who though in their right mind would take a Honda engine at the moment, maybe Manor would have?
Andi.

andicole0 · 27 Mar 2017 at 12:30

Alonso would have really been unhappy at Ferrari the last few years, especially with Seb taking any limelight. I think he made the right decision at time as a Merc drive wasn't available. It just hasn't turned out good for him.
Andi.

andicole0 · 27 Mar 2017 at 13:23

Yes I think Lewis will give up soon so a seat there may be available, if Bottas does well he'll stay. However Mercedes could be losing this year and may not be the 'place to be' a bit like red Bull suddenly lost it.
Andi.

andicole0 · 6 Apr 2017 at 09:39

I wonder if the idea of 1 cylinder testing is a cost saving idea from the fia.
Andi.

andicole0 · 15 Apr 2017 at 16:13

Current rumour is that Mclaren will take Mercedes engines 'soon' and Honda will move to Sauber. But who knows, McLaren move to Indycar and leave F1 it is where Honda excel.
Andi.

andicole0 · 25 Apr 2017 at 11:24

Part one of the demise of McLaren Honda may be taking place right now. Sauber getting close to agreeing to use Honda engines in 2018. Honda are apparently going to be freed from penalties for excess engine component use this year.
Ref: Autosport.
Andi.

andicole0 · 25 Apr 2017 at 11:41

MissChief said:
The article you've linked makes no mention of engine penalties being lifted?

Sorry that's in a Eurosport article, under F1. Original news from bbc f1 gossip column.
Andi.

andicole0 · 25 Apr 2017 at 16:30

It is only one of a number of rumors doing the rounds. But I think F1 needs the 4th engine manufacturer and that is unlikely to expand until the 2021 agreement.
Andi.

andicole0 · 8 Jun 2017 at 20:03

So, it appears Zak Brown is or is about to be on the board of Cosworth.
Andi.