Mclaren Honda heading for a divorce for 2018

Does not help McLaren for 2018....

 

My understanding is that, apart from car production under its own brand, Porsche is still an automotive consultant and works for other car makers that are not part of the VW group.

I think that it is kept confidential (like for Riccardo and Lotus in UK), but Porsche design office has clients in the Far East, even some in Europe, and the US, I have read. Not so long ago, for example, Porsche was behind the design of the Harley Davidson Street Rod engine.
I even read that Porsche was consulted recently by a US aircraft engine manufacturer in the design of their products.

So, I cannot see why they couldn't agree - for the right price - to design a F1 engine for a third party, to be badged by a sponsor. There would be must to gain, that I can't see why VW would object to that!

 

+1

 

This is a pity that the F1 has so limited rules that only admit 1.6 V6 Turbo, the Porsche 2.0 V4 turbo hybrid of the 919 lmp1 would be a fantastic engine for the MC Laren.

 

You can thank Renault for that

 

Apparently the Honda and Merc engines are very similar. Its easier to switch to Merc power than Renault or Ferrari (not that Ferrari would ever give them a motor).

But I still think Honda and Mac are going to be together longer than people say they are. I don't believe the break up this year at all. I do think Alonso may go though.

Zak Brown says the lack of sponsorship is causing a financial crisis that its greater than the money Honda is giving them. It's hard to believe considering they are getting engines for free and 1/2 the driver salary paid. True, no points at all will hurt them financially but they've had chances for points several times this year. It's not like they are running dead last at the end of the races.

To me getting off Honda's gravy train is the biggest problem, not the mechanical or political issues.

 

Ferrari makes engines not motors, just saying

I still think sauber is in play, hard to see mac going back to merc just a guess

 

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/opinion-f1-mclaren-alfa-romeo-919226/

? Not in a million years IMO. In the same way that Hamilton will never race for Ferrari.

 

JUNE 19, 2017

Honda to deliver engine upgrade in Baku?



Honda looks set to deliver a much-needed engine upgrade this weekend in Baku.

In Canada just over a week ago, McLaren chiefs admitted their frustration was at boiling point after the team's hapless Japanese partner failed to deliver the upgrade as scheduled.

Honda's F1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa then said he could not promise it will even be ready for the following race in Azerbaijan.

But he has now told the Japanese publication Sportiva: "There will be some kind of improvement in the combustion engine in Baku.

"I don't know if you can call it specification three, but we'll definitely introduce something even if it is intermediate," Hasegawa added.

The report said Honda has been working hard on 'specification three' at Sakura to address the current power unit's problems, including excessive vibration and a 90hp performance deficit.

But Hasegawa played down hopes the new engine will completely end Honda's 2017 troubles.

"If you improve the combustion engine, the temperature of the exhaust decreases by being more efficient, which reduces the energy recovered through the turbo and MGU-H, making it necessary to change these parts too.

"The situation is more complicated than people can imagine," he added.

The outcome of Honda's latest efforts to improve could be the final straw for the McLaren partnership, and also the next turning point in the career of Fernando Alonso.

"Due to some of his decisions, Fernando could be remembered as one of the lost talents of F1," former Honda F1 team boss Nick Fry is quoted by Spain's La Sexta.

 

Anything can happen in F1, and it sometimes does ...

In the 60s and 70s, I never thought in a million years that Ferrari would ever supply engines to "garagists" (as the Old Man used to call the independent teams which he despised), yet the Scuderia did just that with Minardi, Prost, Manor, Sauber, etc...

In the 50s, following a misunderstanding early in his career, Stirling Moss and Ferrari were like enemies, with the Brit lending his skills to any team that could beat the cars from Maranello (Maserati, Mercedes, Vanwall, Cooper, Lotus).

Yet in 1962, after the Englishman convincingly humiliated his cars twice the previous year, Enzo Ferrari invited Moss for a meeting and some tests. Moss agreed to drive a Ferrari in future (albeit under Rob Walker's colour). Later on Moss had the Goodwood accident that shortened his career, and the deal never came through.

So, Hamilton at Ferrari is improbable, but one never know ...

 

Why should they play filler???

 

And Mercedes.

 

Porsche could be an option for 2020 or 2021
Porsche to attend F1 engine meeting, Austria GP > F1 News > Grandprix.com

 

$$$

Although it's hard to see where Mclaren would get the money from if Honda pulls the plug, they come close to last in the championship, they have no pay drivers, they need to pay Alonso and still have close to no sponsors.

That's why I think they'll stay with Honda, especially if the engine upgrade finally gives slightly better results.

 

+1

I've noticed that with F1 there is a lot of almost journalists that continue to turn out empty stories. It is disappointing, but I guess they have mortgages.
Pete

 

JUNE 21, 2017

McLaren deal not Mercedes priority says Wolff



Toto Wolff is still reluctant to talk about the possibility of Mercedes supplying customer engines to McLaren next year.

It is now very possible that McLaren and its hapless works supplier Honda will split, and Mercedes has been mentioned as the most likely alternative for the once-great British team.

But Mercedes chief Wolff is quoted by Spain's Marca sports newspaper: "If you are considering a new girlfriend, you first want the couple to divorce before jumping into bed.

"It's not our priority at the moment," he added.

"The most important thing is for Honda to improve, to continue in the sport and to have a good deal with its customers or teams. We do not want to interfere at this stage," said Wolff.

 

No, but pehaps is Mclaren's priority...

 

For the good of the sport, if I were Chase Carey, I would try to influence as much as I could to make this Mclaren-Mercedes deal to happen. Can you imagine what Alonso could do with a Mercedes engine? Fernando needs a chance and it would be wonderful to see Hamilton, Vettel, and Alonso battling for victory!

 

If i were Toto this would not even get off the ground..not to mention MB top management who dont want anything to do with Alonso

 

More or less confirmed back of the grid starts this week-end due to engine and related part penalties.

 

I'm sure that MB management is weary of life with Lewis as well. Bottas must seem like a breath of fresh air, low maintenance.

 

This is a bit off topic, but still related. Can somebody enlighten me why McLaren seems to be begging MB for engines, when they now compete with them with their street cars? If I were them, I rather not compete at all than using a competitor's engine (even when they used MB engines before). But maybe there's something I'm missing. Their cars are currently using Ricardo engines, and have proven very reliable. They tried Honda again and failed. Did they try Porsche again? At any rate, it's my understanding even if MB supplies them with engines, they'd never win another championship, since they're inferior to the MB team engines, so why bother? Sorry for the rant, but just don't get it at the moment.

 

Of course they do. At least the AMG GT S is a direct competitor of McLaren's 570S. And I'd say the GT R competes with the 650S, since the Porsche Turbo is considered a competitor as well. At any rate, you made a good point, but don't get why a previous championship winner would just settle to be a 'mid-pack' competitor, knowing they just can't win. Thanks for your input; appreciated.