Villadelprat: "McLaren's Honda decision hasty"
- Published on 05 Mar 2018 09:49
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- By: Rob Veenstra
Former F1 engineer Joan Villadelprat wonders if McLaren was right to have dumped Honda. Already last week, when Honda's new works partner Toro Rosso topped the mileage charts in Barcelona, driver Brendon Hartley said McLaren's decision may have been a "mistake".
And now, Spanish former F1 engineer Villadelprat also doubts the wisdom of McLaren's Honda axe. "I already had reservations last year and I still do," he told Marca. "I thought it was a hasty change and that they would miss all the advantages. As a customer you always have limitations, especially it seems when you are with Renault. I think French pride will drive them to very much want to beat them (McLaren)," said Villadelprat, who worked for McLaren, Ferrari, Benetton and Prost.
He continued: "I think the McLaren is a very developed car aerodynamically, but as the year progresses, Renault will move ahead. They are not investing all of that money from Paris without their own ambitions."
Villadelprat said all McLaren and Fernando Alonso can realistically hope for, therefore, is fourth place behind F1's existing top three teams. "I do not doubt that Fernando will do podiums, but further than that I think will be very difficult," he added.
And he thinks that with a more reliable and powerful Honda engine, Toro Rosso could be a surprise of 2018. "I do not rule out that they will be together with Renault and McLaren. I know very well that they fit perfectly with Honda and they want the project to work, as does Red Bull. I'm sure they (Red Bull) will take that engine in 2019 and will help in every way to develop it. Honda's potential is enormous if someone helps them to channel it," Villadelprat added. (GMM)
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Replies (20)
Login to replyMajor Tom
Posts: 152
On the other hand if McLaren hadn't dumped Honda would Honda have made the sweeping change they have to the management of the project?
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Maybe, maybe not. Its hard to tell. But remember that Honda already made huge reorganizations mid-partnership, when Arai was replaced with Hasegawa, who then proceeded with massrecruiting to the Sakura base.
Bhurt
Posts: 320
There are of course suggestions that McLaren placed a lot of restrictions on Honda that contributed greatly to the problems they had. And the McLaren gearbox was reportedly the source of all the vibrations (which explains why Honda saw no vibrations on their dyno).
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
You can see lots of things in car that you wont see on the dyno. But Im sure McLaren wasnt innocent. At least not during 2015.
Kean
Posts: 692
Woulda, coulda, shoulda. 20-20 hind sight is a beautiful thing. Besides, we really don't know anything from the tests regarding the power or fuel consumption of the Honda PU. Further, I believe it was a decision based more so on the working relationship between McLaren and Honda and not just on doubts about the quality of the Honda PU. Vandoorne has said that already he's become closer and talked more to the Renault people than he ever did with the Honda people. Since McLaren wasn't gonna get a supply from Mercedes, let alone Ferrari, this became their only option. And they've been telling themselves it was the right thing to do and using Red Bull as an example that you can win with customer engines. All this does really is highlight the need for Liberty and the FIA to do something about the current engine regs, we can't have two huge teams (McLaren & Red Bull) out of contention for the title.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
If Wolff is to be trusted (and mostly that seems to be the case... as far as you can trust a businessman), Mercedes did offer McLaren a deal for 2018, but McLaren dragged on time, and the deal was off. So McLaren pretty much shot themselves in the foot.
Kean
Posts: 692
I honestly believe that was a load of crap from Wolff.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Yes, I don't believe that for a second. Toto and Laura were pretty clear about it several times. There was no interest whatsoever. Even more unbelievable is to think that McLaren would have dragged their feet to get a Mercedes engine
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Well, I trust Laura as far as I can throw her, and that aint far (I mean Im skinny as fudge, I aint throwing anything anywhere). And I have a hard time trusting that in general. But it wouldnt surprise me if it was true. I mean it would be such a McLaren thing to do, do get a proposal from Mercedes only to waste the chance.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
It's a bit early for Villadelprat to be saying this. What I would say is that I believe that Redbull lucked into the current situation since they now have the opportunity to choose between 2 power-plants something that's a bit of a rarity these days.
The engine supply chain is going to change of the next seasons and the lack of supply by mercedes/Ferrari to the likes of mcLaren/Redbull might cause them issues in the long run.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
We need more independent engine suppliers to F1. The likes of Mercedes and Ferrari have too much power now, they can pretty much govern whom they want to give more power. Heck, even Renault have a certain degree of that power. Intentional or not, them not providing TR with enough spares at the end of last year did limit how hard TR could push. F1 cant thrive with suppliers being able to excert that kind of power.
reg
Posts: 162
Well Melbourne will start to show how right or wrong McLaren were! My gut feeling is that they will seriously upset the status quo at the front of the grid.
The fact that they chose to test in Barca with the ultra soft and the times they got show their Achilles heel of tyre temperature may well have been worked on very heavily at Barca and that they have at long last solved it or at least understand it much more. This all bodes well for this season, hopefully the oil injection/burning dodge is going to be policed and Merc will not have the ability to have that super extra power for quali laps as they have had for the last few years.
Roll on Melbourne I cannot wait!
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
We will see soon enough. I agree with the general consensus, its far too early. TBH, I dont think McLaren and Honda were good for each other, and hopefully their divorce will lead to better results for them both.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
Honda deserve to be dumped here. Three years is a very very long time for a top team like McLaren. It simply destroyed their brand value. If Honda had better plans, they could have discussed with McLaren before the split.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Oh please... here we go. Honda had a solid showing in the first test and now McLaren made a huge mistake. It's F1's new pastime, hating on McLaren. The truth is that Honda had 3 years to provide something at least half decent. They didn't. The relationship wasn't sustainable. Every proper business plan needs an exit strategy. Three years of dreadful reliability and performance triggered an exit. McLaren will be (is) better off for it, and so is Honda. Not that that will stop people from finding ways to keep blaming McLaren for Honda's dreadful PUs.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It is too early, but thats media for you. But if you think this is hating, lord knows you should stay away from the toxic wastes of 9Gag and the saltmines of League of Legends. Those places are dark and full or terrors. No, this isnt hate, but its the usual media speculations along with lots of people tired of McLaren's constant talking but very little walking. Contrary to what many say, I actually find the criticism McLaren now get necessary. If you overpromise, thats the sorta treatment you will get.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
@calle I was referring to Villadelprat's comments. As far as I remember you are a McLaren fan. Albeit a very disappointed and angry one (aren't we all at this point). I just get incensed by someone drawing definitive conclusions from a test that was anything but conclusive. Between cold weather, tyre differentials I think the only definitive (and obvious) conclusion was that Mercedes has a very good car again. Can't wait for this week though, should be MUCH more interesting and representative.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I am indeed a very disappointed McLaren fan. Im not sure how much more representative this week will be, but we will certainly get more material to draw further potentially unrealistic conclusions. Testing in general is a very poor reference for where things will be. But as you say, its safe to say that Mercedes will be able to shout UNLIMITED POWAAAH (!!!) again this year.
Kean
Posts: 692
Fellas, let's show a little optimism here. You say it's only testing and no conclusions can be drawn, yet I sense an undertone stating that McLaren will not fight with the big boys. But what if conclusions can be drawn from this test (kindly disregard all your logical come backs now, remember optimism). I say McLaren will mix it up with the top three this year, and we'll have a top four. Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren will win races and make it Mercedes most difficult season since the start of the new PU era.
chintamanihk
Posts: 1
can't wait to see him eat his own words.