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Zak Brown has given the biggest indication yet that McLaren is set to remain with current engine suppliers Honda for the 2018 season. Since the start of the season, tensions have been growing within the McLaren-Honda partnership after many expected this year to be the one where Honda got its act together and design a quick and reliable engine.
However, right from day 1 at pre-season testing, there were indications that the Japanese manufacturer had taken a step back from its improvements in the 2016 season. McLaren has been heavily linked to Mercedes over an engine deal for next season, but executive director of the Woking based team Zak Brown says that both Mercedes and Ferrari are not interested in a deal.
"We're a big team that knows how to win races and championships so I think most of the teams, while it's a shame to see where we are, they like us where we are," Brown told Sky Sports. "They don't want to get us too close to them which is understandable."
Despite being in its third year of struggle, Brown believes Honda can produce a competitive engine in the near future. McLaren is starting to work on its 2018 car now, with Brown stating the team needs to know soon who its engine suppliers will be in order to design the car around the power unit.
"We've spoken with Honda about a variety of different scenarios," Brown continued. "We ultimately think that Honda can get the job done, they have in the past. We need to make sure the development comes at a faster pace.
"We're starting to work on our 2018 car now and you can only go so far before you need to know the architecture of what you're doing so I think around the summer time, which obviously isn't far away, we need to finalise what we're doing with Honda moving forward.
"We can't continue to be uncompetitive - that's not what McLaren race for. It's been three years, so we need to see some drastic power adjustments or some different ways to get there. We, like Fernando [Alonso], want to be winning races and being on the podium and in the current state we can't do that - so some things need to change."
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Replies (7)
Login to replyHombibi
Posts: 137
Nothing new here, but it subscribes to the argument that two car manufacturers have almost total control of F1 and the rest is there to fill up the field. Even if Honda and Renault progress than only the factory teams will have the best engines. So four compete and the rest fills up the show. As a side note, but along the same lines, does anyone believe that Red Bull will ever become a world champion again with Renault engines? Now that there is a factory team? I don't think so, there is just no point for Renault. The new engine rules, whatever they will be will have to allow for independent engine suppliers to join in, otherwise (globalization and all) this class will end up with one standard engine supplier and as such lose much of its attraction/differentiation/uniqueness.
talktohenry
Posts: 362
Surprised Ranault can't help...
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
In theory I think they can, but I dont think they or McLaren want to join forces. Renault already have 3 teams, among which is one works team and one pretty competitive team. I dont think they want to use resources on supplying fourth team, and a team who could challenge them should they find more power. And I think that McLaren doesnt want to switch to Renault, I dont think they want to switch from one troubled supplier to another. They know Ferrari and Mercedes will likely be competitive in 2018, they dont know for sure if Renault will be competitive, or even if they will remain above Honda in performance.
f1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
I just want Honda to get sorted...
boudy
Posts: 1,168
Would love mcLaren to be more competitive ...
boudy
Posts: 1,168
Is this because of the weakness from the FIA? They have created this situation. Not sure what arguments you would have for non supplying apart from control over your competitors. Ferrari and Mercedes are showing themselves to be non supportive of F1 with their stance of not supplying to Redbull or mcLaren.
The push for an independent competitive engine is greater than ever. The current situation shows to teams that would join join a culture that is an like "you can play but you can't score".
Another route could be the following. Ferrari and Mercedes get enormous amounts yet they don't see supporting F1 as a core requirement. The FIA should be ruthless in this and demand that engine supply must not be withheld for competitive reasons. That way it would make for a more level playing field.
Hope that the engine issue gets sorted out soon otherwise we might lose some teams.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Its quite logical to see why neither Merc or Ferrari want to supply McLaren. Historically, Ferrari and McLaren have been rivals. Who would supply their rival? And Mercedes probably hold a sort of grudge for McLaren for ditching them, and probably smile with spite looking at the at the moment. And then there is the argument that McLaren could very well be a front challenger with more power. In short, Merc and Ferrari would be mad to supply them, and I sort of feel bad for them not being mad. Madness is the spice of life, filling us with wonderful mixes of joy, wrath and an incredible urge to play horror games.