Mclaren Honda heading for a divorce for 2018

I hope that the Scuderia is not contemplating taking Alonso back.

I would consider that catastrophic.

Alonso cannot keep going back to places where he left a bad smell behind ...

 

He'll sign. He doesn't have anywhere to go. Vettel doesn't want a long contract in case Ferrari just can't bring it together and Vettel ends up in an Alonso situation: Never a car quite competitive enough.

 

He will sign but I bet the deal is about how many years and other issues, like staying number one driver.

I'm sure there's a lot of hardballing going on. Kimi's signing actually put more pressure on Vettel.

 

Kimi has been resigned.
Plus, kimi will simply quit F1 after this stint at Ferrari.

 

Actually what I mean is that Ferrari is saying to Vettel "Ok, we gave you want you wanted -- a clear Number 2 driver. Now sign already."

 

I completely agree with this. If Vettel won't sign a multi-year deal Alonso is waiting in the wings.

 

Ferrari will have to make sure Vettel understands that they are the boss,3 years is the deal,if you don't like it ok hasta la vista baby.So they are holding all the cards because Vettel has no other option right now.

Vettel probably still threatening to go to MB,although with recent statements from Lewis it seems that is a non starter...but hey F1 is a strange world anything can happen.MB should really just sign Bottas asap and stop the speculation.

 

Case closed.

 

the Honda is currently 5kph faster than Ferrari on the Spa straights

 

Meaningless!

Ferrari are doing almost the exact same speed along the straights with a shed load more down-force on the car!

Don't believe Me? - Check the middle sector times for Ferrari and McLaren!

If Ferrari shed the down-force for straight line speed then they would annihilate the McLaren for outright speed, but they'd have a much slower lap time and wouldn't be a challenge to the Mercedes.

 

Having a slippery car is hardly meaningless on the straight, especially with DRS.

 

Well, the problem then is McLaren because Toro Rosso asked for Mac's gearbox to fit to the Honda and McLaren refused.

 

I understand that was the reason for the Sauber-Honda deal to collapse, because Sauber cannot do its own gearbox, and relied on McLaren to provide one.
It may not be the same for Toro Rosso.

 

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/131615/renault-will-not-add-fourth-supply-for-mclaren

Renault will not add fourth F1 engine supply for McLaren in 2018

By Jonathan Noble
Published on Sunday September 3rd 2017


McLaren will not get Renault Formula 1 engines next year unless Toro Rosso switches to Honda, with insiders suggesting it is now too late for a fourth supply to be made available.

Ahead of a crunch day of talks to decide the future of Honda in Formula 1, McLaren is awaiting news of what happens with Toro Rosso before it can finalise its engine situation for 2018.

Red Bull chiefs, who are heavily involved in the Toro Rosso/Honda discussion, have set a deadline of tonight for a deal to be completed before they deem it too late for a switch to happen.

A green light for Honda to tie up with Toro Rosso would free up its Renault customer supply, which could then be moved across to McLaren.

 

Your previous post was pointing out that the McLaren was 5Kph faster along the straight than the Ferrari, suggesting that the McLaren/Honda was a match for the Ferrari for outright speed, but the two cars were not in a "like for like" configuration.

McLaren had to strip the car of down force to do that speed, in a desperate bid to to avoid being overtaken along the Kemmel straight by every other car - a tactic that didn't really work, hence Alonso's: "Embarrassing....This is embarrassing!" comments on the radio as rival cars just drove past him.

Ferrari meanwhile were doing pretty much the exact same top speed without having to compromise their down-force levels, which gave them a much faster overall lap time compared to the McLaren.

Had both cars run in the same down-force configuration, then the McLaren would not have been a match in any way, shape or form to the Ferrari because the fact of the matter is, the Ferrari is a faster car than the McLaren, so your comparison was meaningless.

 

You can't make this stuff up. I'm loving it. The bigger they come...

 

this seems appropriate...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpN54k93ugM[/ame]

 

It wasn't a straight comparison. Merely an observation that the crappy McLaren had faster straightline speed than Ferrari in free practice. The Honda PU is quite useless and can't be helping their NSX sales.

 

It doesn't matter which of the three other engines they would use, they would be podium contenders if their chassis is as good as people report. Renault, Merc, and Ferrari engines have all won races and numerous podiums this year.

As nice as it sounds to get your drivers and engines at no expense in the short run, you'll create a losing work environment that is normally filled with super competitive engineers and mechanics. Morale gets low and people leave...not worth it. Just cut the damn cord and grow up...a 6,000 mile umbilical cord from Japan to UK...longest ever...

 

So, if Toro Rosso goes with Honda, then McLaren can have their Renault deal?

Sounds like a good set-up for Honda and they might be able to land Red Bull as well.

This is a done deal to me.

 

Exactly

 

The NSX isn't helping NSX sales....

Just saying.