McLaren to switch to Honda engines

[no-FIAt-please]

This shows how the McLaren-Mercedes relationship has destabilised in recent times. Not long ago they had been together for over 15 years (a over a quarter of F1's existance), McLaren were Mercedes' works effort and the Stuttgart mark held a large shareholding in McLaren.

Now they've separated and Mercedes are talking about protecting their secrets from Honda. The partnership promised so much but didn't deliver enough. 78 Wins, 229 podiums, 76 pole positions, 84 fastest laps, 1 constructor's title and 3 driver's titles.

I won't say it was good while it lasted, but it was decent.

 

[Il_leone]

To be honest Mclaren Mercedes probably under achieved

Possible titles went begging in

2000
2003
2005
2007
2010
2012

Before any moans about Mclaren's reliability I think you will find a lot of them were down to the fragility of the Mercedes engines letting go

2007 - well that was down to the drivers and management
2010 - you have to say Lewis did not help himself at Monza and Singapore
2012 - Mclaren did mess up with pit stops and mechanical problems

 

[Slyboogy]

I thought Hamilton done very well in 2010, they were a good package, just that the car slipped away at the worst possible time, came back at the end.

One thing that puzzles me, was Mercedes reliability from '98 to '06, they had it bad for 8 years running.

 

[Boyle]

2010 - you have to say Lewis did not help himself at Monza and Singapore

Bit harsh there to be honest. Monza was a first lap collision that could have happened to anyone whilst it didn't help that Hamilton's suspension was made of chocolate. Singapore was clearly Webber's fault, Hamilton had the inside line and the Red Bull cut him up. Both cases could easily have seen the other driver go out.

 

[Boyle]

Anyway, I'm a bit ambivalent about this move although Honda have only been gone five years so far. And I had this as a prediction -

Mclaren will take only one of two of their season's victories at Hungary.

I think I'll stick

 

[gethinceri]

Mmmmmm, chocolate......

 

[Boyle]

Zat vos 10 meenuts ago!

 

[teabagyokel]

Boyle - You mean there was an incident where Mark Webber was entirely to blame but gnashed and wailed loudly enough that the media blamed the other guy for some unknown reason?

 

[ZakspeedYakspeed]

teabagyokel ... it wasn't an unknown reason ... it was the eminently quotable Lewis Hamilton when prodded by a stick...

 

[teabagyokel]

I think McLaren may be at risk of falling somewhat into the same trap Williams-Renault are currently trying to fight their way out of here.

 

[Fenderman]

Yes, that has to be a concern although I do think Honda's experience with smaller capacity racing engines may just level the playing field for them. They will also have a full one and a half seasons to develop their engine for 2015. Had their engine been required for 2014 there would be cause for somewhat less optimism, for sure.

 

[The Pits]

To be honest, I am not sure I can see McLaren going the way of Williams. Williams actively made adjustments to the business due to their change in fortune, downsizing, lowering budgets etc, which I cannot see McLaren doing. I think to be honest it is shit or bust for Mclaren.

 

[Il_leone]

Slyboogy

I remember this article in F1 magazine relating back in 2005

What happened was Mercedes engines were built by Ilmor consortium based in the UK - who did a great job in building Mercedes engines for Penske in the Indycar series from 1994 (where they annihilated Mansell )

Now when Mercedes entered F1 the engines were still built by Ilmor but as they wanted more effort in F1 therefore pretty much quitting Indy Car and GT racing they wanted Ilmor to be part of engine division of Mercedes corporate

what accelerated this was the death of Paul Morgan one of the Ilmor founders

So the close knit family team was suddenly exposed to this corporate giant behemoth after probably losing an inspirational leader
---------------------------------------------------

First signs of Mercedes problems was when the engine let go in Indy 2000 when Hakkinen was pursuing Schumacher

future problems included the engine initially lost out in power stakes to Ferrari and BMW so Mclaren were not as strong

2003 - another engine failure cost Raikkonen the title in an old car Mp4-17 whilst the new car Mp4-18 had teething troubles
2004 - desperately to correct the mistake of 2003 the new car Mp4-19 came out but was met with a serious of engine vibration problems - the cars cold barely last 10 laps

2005 - the quickest car but still more engine failures

apparently quality control issues was the reasons cited

 

[Fenderman]

.... I think to be honest it is shit or bust for Mclaren.

Has been that way for Macca for some while, methinks.

 

[Il_leone]

Boyle

My reasoning is because Lewis was world champion leader and his nearest rival was Webber at the time who started behind him on the grid

An ill advised move on lap 1 on Massa who was not a challenger and it was a left hand chicane with a right hand fast corner next

Hamilton probably would have got 3rd if he kept his nose clean

that lead to Singapore situation where he probably would not have taken such needless risk anyway if he had points gap to himself and Webber

he got himself in a good position after Spa but then threw it away in Monza.

 

[Il_leone]

The Pits

I don't think Mclaren will fall away like Williams did because Frank Williams wanted to retain control although Ron Dennis is still trying to exert some influence as shareholder

It is a gamble with Honda but definitely the right one as its obvious Mercedes engine will eventually suit the factory team and if the engines come free then why not

My only concern is who is going to be future of Mclaren if it aint Jenson. Honda love their Brazilians which is obvious from a marketing stand point .

Honda tend to lean towards one driver for input - they loved Senna despite his demanding attitude

 

[Slyboogy]

I'm not sure you can blame Hamilton for the Singapore incident, it's not as if it was a bad move or anything.

Just another one of those incidents that Webber gets away with despite barging into people.

 

[Mephistopheles]

whilst it didn't help that Hamilton's suspension was made of chocolate.

Was it only Hamilton's suspension that was made out of chocolate?

 

[Chad Stewarthill]

I do hope they bring back the red & white livery too.

 

[The Pits]

Maybe they can use some of the left over Earth Dreams paint.