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The divide between McLaren and Honda is deepening and may be reaching an irreversible point. An anticipated engine upgrade for this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix has been cancelled. McLaren aims to achieve success with Honda, yet each setback and missed deadline raises the pressing question: Should they remain with Honda or seek a different engine supplier?
Zak Brown, the new executive director of McLaren, recently discussed this issue with Reuters. He expressed that the troubled relationship with Honda weighs heavily on the team.
Here are some key quotes from Brown’s Reuters interview:
“Honda’s working very hard but they seem a bit lost. We were only told recently that we wouldn’t have the upgrade coming (for Montreal)…and we don’t have a definitive timeline, which is concerning because the pain is great and we can’t sit around forever. We were eagerly awaiting this upgrade as were our drivers and it’s a big disappointment that it’s not coming. It’s not lack of effort, but they are struggling to get it to come together.”
“There are lots of factors in play, and we are now entering the critical decision-making phase.”
Zak Brown
Brown indicated that McLaren has a 90-day window to reach a decision. This isn’t solely about the engines; it also concerns the future of Fernando Alonso.
Beyond their desire for Honda as an engine partner, McLaren is keen to keep Alonso in the driver’s seat. Despite not being a title contender since 2012, Alonso is often hailed as one of the best drivers in Formula One. He has driven the McLaren-Honda to achieve more than its capabilities this season.
To retain Alonso, McLaren must provide a competitive car. If the team decides to switch engine suppliers for the upcoming season, will Alonso be willing to deal with another year of adjusting to a new technical collaboration? Or will he prefer to give the McLaren-Honda partnership one more chance to prove its worth? That is a decision only Alonso can make.
Financial considerations may heavily influence this situation. McLaren operates largely as a Honda factory team, with Honda reportedly contributing $100 million annually to McLaren’s Formula One budget. While McLaren is a significant player in the supercar market, its financial resources fall short compared to rivals like Ferrari and Mercedes. Even Red Bull has a larger budget than McLaren.
Can McLaren afford to lose that $100 million while also spending an additional $10-20 million on customer engines from a new supplier? Only McLaren can determine the answer.
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