McLaren and Honda formally agree to part ways

  • Published on 12 Sep 2017 19:29
  • comments 15
  • By: Fergal Walsh

McLaren and Honda have formally agreed to part ways at the end of the 2017 season. The future of the deal has been cast in major doubt over the last couple of weeks, and it was expected that the announcement of the divorce would be made this week.

Honda re-entered the sport in 2015 to supply McLaren with power units, with the vision of achieving the success of the late 1980's, when McLaren-Honda dominated the sport. However, three seasons later, McLaren has not yet got close to claiming a podium finish.

It is also reported that McLaren has signed a three-year deal with Renault and will take up a supply from the French manufacturer until the end of 2020, right before the next set of engine regulations will come into the frame. With Fernando Alonso previously claiming he would not stay at McLaren if they continued with Honda, it is now suggested that the Spaniard will stay on with the Woking team.

F1's bosses have been meeting recently with the hope of securing Honda in F1 for the long-term. It is therefore likely that Toro Rosso will be given a deal with Honda and Carlos Sainz will depart the Red Bull junior squad to sign for the Renault team.

 

Fergal Walsh

mbmwe36

Posts: 533

I think this will prove to be a major mistake. But as I am not a McLaren nor an Alonso fan, I am perfectly okay with that.

  • 1
  • Sep 12 2017 - 19:42

Replies (15)

Login to reply
  • mbmwe36

    Posts: 533

    I think this will prove to be a major mistake. But as I am not a McLaren nor an Alonso fan, I am perfectly okay with that.

    • + 1
    • Sep 12 2017 - 19:42
    • Kean

      Posts: 692

      I agree, however not about the part of not being a McLaren/Alonso fan, but I also think this will leave McLaren chasing podiums at the most for the coming three years, and not wins so forget about winning championships. I also find it strange to switch from the fourth best PU to the third best, sure Honda might not catch up to Mercedes or Ferrari but perhaps they could catch Renault. Also, Renault have proven to be unreliable, and rumor has it Cyril Abitboul is a real pain to deal with. All this suggests to me that it is not just an underperforming PU from Honda that has led to this decision, there must be more to it such as severe differences in culture between Honda and McLaren. Given that Alonso is part of this decision, and given his history, I think this might be a jinx and I wouldn't be surprised if Honda finds the magic bullet next year. Alonsos moves in F1 is like my choices of cues at the supermarket - never stand behind me, cause you can bet that it will be the slowest moving cue.

      • + 0
      • Sep 12 2017 - 20:05
    • dr002

      Posts: 141

      I tend to agree that there could be more to it than just an under-performing engine, and I wonder if it was all McLaren's decision, and whether Honda was happy to allow the deal to end...... I'm quietly hoping Honda has surreptitiously maneuvered McLaren into making such a decision by holding off on engine development in order to orchestrate a split in response to cultural differences. I’m sure there have been times when the way in which McLaren have handled things in the media have not accorded with Honda’s 'sensibilities', not to mention Alonso’s on track antics and criticisms.

      • + 0
      • Sep 13 2017 - 00:52
    • Hombibi

      Posts: 137

      I think this could be a very good step: Three top teams with the same engine, (ok Renault not yet a top team). I already look forward to the close battles between Red Bull and McLaren for third or second. It might actually drive these two teams up, closer to Ferrari and Mercedes. PR and sponsor wise it is a good idea: both Red Bull won't be driving around in no man's land any longer, McLaren is back in business, and both will get much more attention, air time and with that revenue direct and indirect. What's more, the fact the engine rules are going to change in 2020 means that there is no point in trying to catch up with the current engines for Honda. McLaren would remain where they are for the coming years. Further more it will mean that the pressure on Renault to improve their engine increases as it is not just Red Bull, but also Mc Laren, and that makes any investment much more justified.
      What beats me though is what's in the deal for Torro Rosso. Seems to me they got the short end of the stick.

      • + 0
      • Sep 13 2017 - 09:24
    • Kean

      Posts: 692

      @Hombibi I read that the Toro Rosso-Honda deal is part of Dietrich Mateschitz's long term ambition to sell the team to Honda. For now Toro Rosso can only hope that Honda turns a corner. Financially it's got to be a boost for Toro Rosso.

      • + 0
      • Sep 13 2017 - 10:27
  • Regrettable, but not exactly unexpected. I think it will likely turn out to be a mistake, but time will tell. Either way, they will move from one engine to an, as of now, slightly better engine, and will loose a whole lot of cash to boot. Worse, that cash might go to a direct competitor.

    • + 0
    • Sep 12 2017 - 20:41
  • McLaren didn't really have a choice... Honda has proven to be no better in 3 years, a return to podium fighting will look very good on the back of the last three years

    • + 1
    • Sep 12 2017 - 22:20
  • 130R

    Posts: 5

    It's a tough move but it will yield one interesting thing, a direct head to head between Red Bull and McLaren as the best independent chassis maker.

    • + 0
    • Sep 13 2017 - 00:11
  • Karl

    Posts: 10

    And the winner is: RBR!

    • + 0
    • Sep 13 2017 - 01:14
  • reg

    Posts: 162

    No choice, clearly Merc & Ferrari don't want McClaren with the same engine, so as we say in the UK....... Hobson's choice!

    • + 0
    • Sep 13 2017 - 09:44
  • Good interim choice. I suppose if Honda eventually get their act together they can always go back. However, Honda is nowhere near where it should be. I expect McLaren to do as well as Red Bull has this year.

    • + 0
    • Sep 14 2017 - 01:21
  • Good riddance, can't wait for the new excuses the armchair experts will spin for Honda come next year but that isn't Mclaren's problem anymore. I am now very interested to know what sh*t Toro Rosso smoked, dat some stronk stuff Mclaren gave them to take off the Honda turds.

    • + 0
    • Sep 14 2017 - 12:45
    • Probably the same you smoke daily, possum. Mind sharing some? :P

      • + 0
      • Sep 14 2017 - 16:29
    • Nah bruh am straight edge B-)

      • + 0
      • Sep 14 2017 - 18:33
    • Sure are, darl, sure are.

      • + 0
      • Sep 14 2017 - 20:11

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America
17 - May 19 2024
Italy
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco
7 - Jun 9 2024
Canada
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
19 - Apr 21 2024
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9 2024
21 - Jun 23 2024
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Country Spain
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (44)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, Spain
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar

Total queries: 4
Total time: 0.15353488922119
timesincestartcallerannotatebtdesc
0.000474
instantiate query log (0Q - total module time: 0.00065398s)
""
0.001134
boot (0Q - total module time: 0.00011110s)
""
0.001248
translation-init (1Q - total module time: 0.00105214s)
""
0.000317810.001970/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/index.php/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/dbal/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Statement.php:189(stopQuery)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Repository/Redirect.php:105(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Entities/Redirect.php:112(findByOrigin)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/Redirects.php:108(getRedirectOrFalse)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Router.php:115(checkForDBRedirects)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/website.php:260(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/index.php:11(require_once)
SELECT redirects.id, redirects.origin, redirects.referer FROM redirects WHERE redirects.origin = :origin ORDER BY id
{"origin":"\/en\/news\/f1\/231253\/mclaren-and-honda-formally-agree-to-part-ways"}
0.002302
controller::news/f1/231253/mclaren-and-honda-formally-agree-to-part-ways (2Q - total module time: 0.10330200s)
""
0.006828070.003012/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/dbal/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Statement.php:189(stopQuery)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Repository/Article.php:389(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php:127(findNextArticle)
{"function":"F1T\\Controllers\\{closure}","class":"F1T\\Controllers\\News","object":{"current_page":"news"},"type":"->","args":[]}
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/Cache.php:144(call_user_func)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php:158(lazyFetch)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php:47(action_Index)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Router.php:269(dispatch)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Router.php:195(_load)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/website.php:260(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/index.php:11(require_once)
SELECT Articles.ArticleId AS ArticleId, Articles.RewriteUrl AS RewriteUrl, Articles.ArticleType as ArticleType, Articles.Category as Category, Articles.cntnlang AS cntnlang, RacingSeries.RewriteUrl AS RacingSeriesRewriteUrl FROM Articles INNER JOIN RacingSeries ON Articles.RacingSerieId = RacingSeries.RacingSerieId WHERE Articles.cntnlang = :siteLang AND Articles.SiteId = :siteId AND Articles.Activated = 1 AND Articles.PublishDate < :publishDate AND Articles.ArticleType IN (:param0, :param1, :param2) AND Articles.ArticleId > :articleId ORDER BY Articles.ArticleId ASC LIMIT 1
{"siteLang":"en","siteId":"1","publishDate":"2026-02-04 12:20:00","articleId":231253,":param0":"Nieuws",":param1":"LiveRaceReport",":param2":"Liveblog"}
0.065587040.009877/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/dbal/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Statement.php:189(stopQuery)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Repository/Article.php:318(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php:128(findPrevArticle)
{"function":"F1T\\Controllers\\{closure}","class":"F1T\\Controllers\\News","object":{"current_page":"news"},"type":"->","args":[]}
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/Cache.php:144(call_user_func)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php:158(lazyFetch)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Controllers/News.php:47(action_Index)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Router.php:269(dispatch)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Router.php:195(_load)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/website.php:260(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/index.php:11(require_once)
SELECT Articles.ArticleId AS ArticleId, Articles.RewriteUrl AS RewriteUrl, Articles.ArticleType as ArticleType, Articles.Category as Category, Articles.cntnlang AS cntnlang, RacingSeries.RewriteUrl AS RacingSeriesRewriteUrl FROM Articles INNER JOIN RacingSeries ON Articles.RacingSerieId = RacingSeries.RacingSerieId WHERE Articles.cntnlang = :siteLang AND Articles.SiteId = :siteId AND Articles.Activated = 1 AND Articles.PublishDate < :publishDate AND Articles.ArticleType IN (:param0, :param1, :param2) AND Articles.ArticleId < :articleId ORDER BY Articles.ArticleId DESC LIMIT 1
{"siteLang":"en","siteId":"1","publishDate":"2026-02-04 12:20:00","articleId":231253,":param0":"Nieuws",":param1":"LiveRaceReport",":param2":"Liveblog"}
0.105609 cacheAble: yes
module:News\Result (0Q - total module time: 0.00043893s)
""
0.106051 cacheAble: yes
module:News\Photos (0Q - total module time: 0.00012589s)
""
0.106179 cacheAble: yes
module:News\Trending (0Q - total module time: 0.00010610s)
""
0.106288 cacheAble: yes
module:News\Reply (1Q - total module time: 0.04343295s)
""
0.037548780.106914/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Repository/CommentVotes.php/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/dbal/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Connection.php:1323(stopQuery)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/orm/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Query/Exec/SingleSelectExecutor.php:31(executeQuery)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/orm/lib/Doctrine/ORM/Query.php:325(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/orm/lib/Doctrine/ORM/AbstractQuery.php:1212(_doExecute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/orm/lib/Doctrine/ORM/AbstractQuery.php:1166(executeIgnoreQueryCache)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/doctrine/orm/lib/Doctrine/ORM/AbstractQuery.php:901(execute)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Repository/CommentVotes.php:192(getResult)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/CommentVotesManager.php:46(getCommentVotesByVoteIp)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Modules/News/Reply.php:101(getCommentVotesByIP)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/ModuleBase.php:115(internalRender)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/ModuleBase.php:89(captureOutput)
{"function":"F1T\\{closure}","class":"F1T\\ModuleBase","object":{"_amp":false},"type":"->","args":[]}
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/Cache.php:144(call_user_func)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/ModuleBase.php:92(lazyFetch)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/ViewRenderer/TwigExtensions/ModuleRenderer.php:35(fetch)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Environment.php(418) : eval()'d code:549(renderModule)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:182(block_mainContent)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Environment.php(418) : eval()'d code:62(displayBlock)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:182(block_content)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Environment.php(418) : eval()'d code:715(displayBlock)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:405(doDisplay)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:378(displayWithErrorHandling)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Environment.php(418) : eval()'d code:45(display)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:405(doDisplay)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:378(displayWithErrorHandling)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Environment.php(418) : eval()'d code:46(display)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:405(doDisplay)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:378(displayWithErrorHandling)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Template.php:390(display)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/TemplateWrapper.php:45(render)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/vendor/twig/twig/src/Environment.php:318(render)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/Services/ViewRenderer/TwigRenderer.php:115(render)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/ViewTrait.php:98(render)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/ViewTrait.php:79(renderViewFile)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/app/website.php:261(render)
/var/www/dev-priyantha.gptoday.net/public_html/index.php:11(require_once)
SELECT c0_.CommentId AS CommentId_0, c1_.Vote AS Vote_1 FROM Comments c0_ INNER JOIN CommentVotes c1_ ON (c1_.CommentId = c0_.CommentId) WHERE c0_.ArticleId = ? AND c1_.VoteIp = ?
[231253,"216.73.216.130"]
0.149726 cacheAble: no
module:Sidebar (0Q - total module time: 0.00038314s)
""
0.150112
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::ads (0Q - total module time: 0.00001311s)
""
0.150127
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::gpschedule (0Q - total module time: 0.00000191s)
""
0.150130 cacheAble: yes
module:GpSchedule (0Q - total module time: 0.00013900s)
""
0.150271
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::results (0Q - total module time: 0.00000501s)
""
0.150277 cacheAble: yes
module:Results (0Q - total module time: 0.00010920s)
""
0.150389
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::testcalendar (0Q - total module time: 0.00000310s)
""
0.150393 cacheAble: yes
module:TestCalendar (0Q - total module time: 0.00010800s)
""
0.150503
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::ads (0Q - total module time: 0.00000501s)
""
0.150508
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::ads (0Q - total module time: 0.00000191s)
""
0.150510
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::relatednews (0Q - total module time: 0.00000310s)
""
0.150513 cacheAble: yes
module:RelatedNews (0Q - total module time: 0.00012112s)
""
0.150636
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::whoischatting (0Q - total module time: 0.00000501s)
""
0.150643
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::ads (0Q - total module time: 0.00000215s)
""
0.150646
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::poll (0Q - total module time: 0.00000095s)
""
0.150648 cacheAble: no
module:Poll (0Q - total module time: 0.00166607s)
""
0.152316
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::ads (0Q - total module time: 0.00000620s)
""
0.152322
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::ads (0Q - total module time: 0.00000095s)
""
0.152325
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::gpcalendar (0Q - total module time: 0.00000095s)
""
0.152327 cacheAble: yes
module:GpCalendar (0Q - total module time: 0.00010705s)
""
0.152436
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::driver_Info (0Q - total module time: 0.00000405s)
""
0.152442 cacheAble: yes
module:Driver\Info (0Q - total module time: 0.00010586s)
""
0.152550
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::team_Info (0Q - total module time: 0.00000501s)
""
0.152556 cacheAble: yes
module:Team\Info (0Q - total module time: 0.00010204s)
""
0.152660
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::linkedKeywords (0Q - total module time: 0.00000501s)
""
0.152666
sidebar:sidebar-news-read::gpsidebarnavigation (0Q - total module time: 0.00000310s)
""
0.152669 cacheAble: no
module:GpSidebarNavigation (0Q - total module time: 0.00028706s)
""
0.152958 cacheAble: yes
module:Layout\Footer (0Q - total module time: 0.00018406s)
""
0.153144 cacheAble: yes
module:News\Breaking (0Q - total module time: 0.00038505s)
""
0.153533
done
""