FORUMula1.com

[overboost]

...and Toro Rosso to Honda.

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/form ... 52412.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[darwin dali]

Very interesting background stories...

[sagi58]

Pretty cool!!

[myownalias]

It'll be ironic if Honda suddenly starts performing in the back of the Toro Rosso in 2018.

I think the writing was already on the wall in the first third of the season in regard to the Honda / McLaren partnership. Now, let's see if McLaren can move up the field with Renault power, clearly, the Renault unit is not that bad given that Red Bull has won with the engine this season, we'll see how good the McLaren chassis really is.

[JAA17]

There are loads of rumours, but does anyone know what is happening to Alonso next year? I am a big fan a really want him to stay in F1.

[darwin dali]

Nobody knows, yet...

[darwin dali]

ESPNF1:
Honda motorsport chief Masashi Yamamoto:
"Take this for an example: If we compare both teams with different cuisines, let's say McLaren is a very sophisticated French cuisine, that's the way it is. Then Toro Rosso is more like a countryside, homemade, delicious stew where you can add new ingredients. We're excited to do that."

[sagi58]

^ sounds like they caught up with him just before dinner!!

[rob91]

I think they should have stuck it out with Honda, going to Renault as a customer team will not make McLaren anymore competitive than they are now but it means they will have to pay for the engines instead of getting them for free.

[myownalias]

Renault clearly have a superior power unit, it is a multi-podium and race winning power unit in 2017, which will only get better. And unless Honda can make a massive leap, which given the evidence of the past 3 years, seems unlikely, won't be in a better position than Renault in 2018. Honda maybe paying the bills, but the damage to McLaren's reputation has cost them dear, sponsorship is sparse and being mired in the DNF list race after race has made them very undesirable to the corporate sponsors.

[Van Der Shaft]

This is a big gamble by Red Bull who are clearly only using Torro Rosso as a development platform for the Honda engine. With the latest news that Renault are dumping them at the end of 2018 they are leaving themselves quite vulnerable to having a mediocre engine. Merc and Ferrari have already stated that they have no intention of supplying them when they have such a competitive chassis and their attitude towards Renault has shown other potential suppliers what to expect in terms of a relationship with them in the future. Even if Honda do improve there's no guarantee that they'll give Red Bull a works deal - which is clearly what they're after - and the only fallback they have is in Aston Martin, who aren't even in the sport at the moment beyond the form of a sponsor.

Renault have their own team in F1 and with that more of a reason to improve their engines than Honda, who seem quite content to sit at home in Japan twiddling their thumbs, so the McLaren team should experience improved results as the years go by, and at least have an increased chance of getting both cars across the finish line by next year. Renault also get Sainz in the bargain, so they'll have a driver with the ability to actually score points without half of the field dropping out in front of him before the fact in the other car.