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McLaren engine decision to come by September

Published on 31 Jul 2017 14:17
3
By: Fergal Walsh

McLaren says it needs to know what engine it will run for the 2018 season by September. The relationship between McLaren and current supplier Honda has been turbulent ever since they reunited back in 2015. The Woking squad has never reached further than the mid-field pack with Hungary marking the first time this season the team was situated at the bottom of the standings.

Both McLaren and Honda are weighing up their options for next year. McLaren was reportedly interested in a move back to Mercedes, but the German manufacturer was unwilling to provide power in fear of gaining a competitor at the top. McLaren racing director Eric Boullier says a decision needs to come by September.

"Technically you could change an engine in 12 weeks," said the Frenchman in Hungary. "You can change it anytime before the season up to three months before. If you want to do a base design around an engine, it's September."

Honda was hit with the pain of Sauber cancelling the proposed engine deal for 2018, but there are suggestions that Toro Rosso could be set for a Honda agreement. Honda chief Yusuke Hasegawa says that he was encouraged by what he saw in Hungary and is looking to come back stronger after the summer break.

"There is no doubt we would like to stick with McLaren, I think they are getting better performance," he said. "Today’s result is the sum of a lot of hard work and daily efforts made by the team members, and I want to thank them all for this.

"Although we are now able to head into the summer break with good momentum, we are not satisfied with the overall results of the first half of the season. We will continue to push our development for improvement, and hope to have a good start of the second half in Spa- Francorchamps."

Fergal Walsh

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527

I find that reasonable. Personally, I hope they stay with Honda for at least one more year, even though the chances are bleak, and I will certainly not blame them for leaving, should Mercedes or Ferrari dangle a 18 spec or even a 17 spec unit in front of them. 17 spec because of McLaren's specula... [Read more]

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Jul 31 2017 - 18:12

F1 News Sauber Mercedes McLaren Honda

Replies (3)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
I find that reasonable. Personally, I hope they stay with Honda for at least one more year, even though the chances are bleak, and I will certainly not blame them for leaving, should Mercedes or Ferrari dangle a 18 spec or even a 17 spec unit in front of them. 17 spec because of McLaren's speculations on taking a 1 year break from Honda, and negotiating a deal with that would be quicker and cheaper for them compared to a 1 year deal with a more recent spec.

Problem is: if they go for taking a 1 year break from Honda, that return might not happen. We know Red Bull want to be a works team, and many suspect that Toro Rosso are talking with Honda. If McLaren leaves, and TR get a deal and becomes the de facto works team, and the partnership proves successful, Red Bull will switch PU-supplier about as fast as Swedish politicians change their stance on politics. And Im pretty sure Red Bull would shut that door for McLaren.
- + 1
- Jul 31 2017 - 18:12
- Kevin
  
  Posts: 5,341
  I agree. McLaren should cherish their works team-status and keep working together with Honda to make the partnership succeed. They cannot afford to jeopardise their relationship with Honda just for a B-graded Mercedes engine. On the other hand, they need results asap, before personnel starts looking to shine elsewhere. Honda finally seems to get its act together, so now it's not the time to change seats.
  
  Although unconfirmed, rumours state spec4 might be coming in Spa and it should deliver another 30hp. I think that should indefinitely promote McLaren to be the 4th team on the grid, maybe able to challenge RBR on some circuits. They should be able to challenge for 5th in the constructors (Williams 41 points).. but as a McLaren-fan, I'm not enthusiastic about P5. It's going in the right direction, but after 3 years it's not enough.
  
  Like Ron Dennis said, after McLaren's last podium finish till today (2013 Melbourne, P2 & P3): "we are pleased, but we're not ecstatic. We save exstatic for wins".
  + 0
  
  Aug 1 2017 - 02:25
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I very much agree with you. And yes, from the sound of Arai here in his statement, it seems like that rumor is pretty much confirmed. Im not sure if 30hp will be enough to bring them up to 4th, not when Force India is so consistent, but it should definitely bring them up into the mix. At this rate, even the slightest power increases will make wonders for them. I agree it isnt enough, and I doubt it'll happen, but if they do get to P5, it would still be a good result, especially seeing as this season has been worse then 2016, and they finished P6 that year.
  + 0
  
  Aug 1 2017 - 06:32