Photo: McLaren-Honda on Facebook
Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. 1988 to 1992. Total dominance in qualifying and in the race. The original partnership between McLaren and Honda is the stuff of dreams, something Formula 1 has been akin to replicate with the Japanese engine supplier’s return to the king motorsport in 2015. But the modern McLaren-Honda link-up wasn’t meant to be for one too many reasons. It just wasn't.
First of all, it should be highlighted that McLaren used Mercedes power in 2014, a season that saw the British team rack up enough points to be ranked 5th in the constructors’ standings. Once Honda entered the scene in 2015, the Woking-based team finished the season on 9th. 2016 sees McLaren-Honda end on 6th, and the current Formula 1 season has the team trailing on 9th, between the uncompetitive Sauber-Ferrari and improving Renault team.
It’s no wonder Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, Stoffel Vandoorne, head honcho Zak Brown, and everyone in the grandstands had enough of this tragedy. The writing was on the wall since the beginning of the year, but this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix sees McLaren and Honda officially parting ways. As expected, the ensuing changes are likely to polarize opinion.
Honda agreed to split with McLaren as the Japanese engine supplier found a new partner in Scuderia Toro Rosso. But the Renault-powered team has to pay the price of letting the French powerplant go in favor of Honda, and that price is Carlos Sainz Jr. being borrowed to Renault works for the 2018 Formula 1 season. As for McLaren, the outfit hopes to perform better with Renault. But in the long run, the new alliance is just another customer supply deal.
It’s impossible to determine which will be stronger in terms of engine performance in 2018 between McLaren-Renault and Toro Rosso-Honda, but one thing is certain. Formula 1 didn’t lose its mojo once Liberty Media took control. For all that, it’s gotten more exciting since Bernie left the stage.
It’s no wonder Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, Stoffel Vandoorne, head honcho Zak Brown, and everyone in the grandstands had enough of this tragedy. The writing was on the wall since the beginning of the year, but this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix sees McLaren and Honda officially parting ways. As expected, the ensuing changes are likely to polarize opinion.
Honda agreed to split with McLaren as the Japanese engine supplier found a new partner in Scuderia Toro Rosso. But the Renault-powered team has to pay the price of letting the French powerplant go in favor of Honda, and that price is Carlos Sainz Jr. being borrowed to Renault works for the 2018 Formula 1 season. As for McLaren, the outfit hopes to perform better with Renault. But in the long run, the new alliance is just another customer supply deal.
It’s impossible to determine which will be stronger in terms of engine performance in 2018 between McLaren-Renault and Toro Rosso-Honda, but one thing is certain. Formula 1 didn’t lose its mojo once Liberty Media took control. For all that, it’s gotten more exciting since Bernie left the stage.
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