Honda returns to F1 in 2015

[Richard]

It's complete true, specialy when Mclaren confirmed it.

Did they?

[Pup]

It's complete true...but this are just rumors.

[Pierce89]

I hope its better than the v8 they built.

[Robbobnob]

Considering the developments at Force India, with Adrian Suitil being awarded the seat. Perhaps there was a push from Mercedes to secure Force India's funding for 2014, as otherwise Mercedes could be left carrying the development cost of the engine by themselves.

The Same goes for Ferrari, as no doubt they were also trying to secure Force India, to cover the costs that will be lost due to Torro Rosso moving to Renault. However they were certainly quick to secure Jules Bianchi the Marrusia seat, which in my mind see's them sorted as partners for 2014.

Renault have openly said that they expect other manufacturers to join in, and that they only want to supply 3-4 teams at the max. With the Torro Rosso rumours going, that leaves Williams or Caterham looking for another engine partner as i doubt Renault would want to drop Lotus or Red Bull.

Given Williams past history with Honda, they could very well become partners once again.

[WhiteBlue]

Honda back in the fold followed by Porsche would be great news. It would reward Todt's team for showing great patience and wisdom with the engine strategy.

[GrizzleBoy]

Holy crap O_O

From BBC article.

McLaren poised to switch to Honda engines for 2015 season
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer McLaren are to use Honda engines as the Japanese company returns to Formula 1 for the first time since 2008.

Honda pulled out of F1 after years of poor results with its own team, which subsequently won the championship as Brawn in 2009 and is now Mercedes.

But the engine manufacturer has decided to return because of next year's introduction of turbo engines featuring energy recovery technology.

McLaren are first expected to race with Honda engines in 2015.

Continue reading the main story
“We are looking for a long-term engine supplier relationship with McLaren-Mercedes”

Toto Wolff

Mercedes F1 executive director

A McLaren spokesman said: "We never discuss media rumours about potential partners."

Mercedes, which currently supplies McLaren's engines, said it could not comment on its partner's plans, but its F1 executive director Toto Wolff said: "We are looking for a long-term engine supplier relationship with McLaren-Mercedes."

McLaren has a contract with Mercedes with options for the team to renew for 2014 and 2015. McLaren are expected to take up only the first of those options.

Honda president Takanobu Ito on 8 February admitted that the company was "studying" the idea of an F1 return.

The company has not yet officially confirmed its plans to return.

The McLaren-Honda deal revives a partnership that had great historical success.

McLaren, with Honda as an engine supplier, dominated F1 in the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning four consecutive world drivers' championships with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, as well as the corresponding years' constructors' titles.

In 1988, McLaren with Senna and Prost enjoyed the most successful season in F1 history, winning 15 of the 16 races.

Honda also dominated the mid-1980s with Williams, winning the 1987 drivers' title with Nelson Piquet and the 1986 and 1987 constructors' championships.

Honda would become the fourth road-car manufacturer supplying engines in F1, alongside Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari (Fiat).

Honda's decision to re-enter F1 vindicates the switch to the new engine formula, which has been criticised and opposed by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone as an unnecessary expense.

Its proponents, mainly governing body the FIA and the car manufacturers already in F1, have long argued that the sport needed to abandon the current formula for 2.4-litre V8 naturally aspirated engines because they were an out-of-date technology and out of tune with the requirement for energy efficiency.

The new engines will feature extensive use of energy recovery systems, a technology that is increasingly prevalent in road cars.

Mercedes has said that it is aiming for a thermal efficiency of 40% with its new turbo engine - a figure markedly more efficient than even the best road-car diesel engines, which are in the region of 35%.

The formula promotes efficiency through a limit on the amount of fuel that can be used and is expected to further the development of such engines in road cars.

Last month, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh was critical of the sport's vacillation over the new engines, which were initially planned to be introduced in 2013 before Ecclestone engineered a delay of a year.

"[Road-car] manufacturers need to see it happen now," Whitmarsh said.

"Even in the last few weeks people [have been saying]: 'Oh, should we really go V6 next year?'

"Christ, we're committed to it. Good, bad or indifferent we've got to do it now. We've been saying it for long enough, we've delayed it long enough, we've actually got to bloody well do it.

"If I was on the board of a big OEM [road-car manufacturer], I'd be saying: 'Let's wait a couple of years and see whether F1 actually does what it says it's going to do for a change.'

"So [the] combination of the world economy, the biggest recession in OEM history, uncertainty over whether we've really done it, but F1 remains a fantastic environment for brand exposure for OEM and I predict in four-five years' time we'll be back up to four or five OEMs in the sport.

"You'll have a constant churn. For some of us F1 is our core business. OEMs will be here when it suits them and it helps them sell cars or helps them differentiate the cars so they can sell them at a higher price. There is no love for the sport.

"They have to be there for rational business reasons. So creating technologies that are socially relevant, are appropriate to the automotive industry [is important].

"But we now have to prove we have the governance in our sport, that it's consistent and stable, that we're not all going to go bust. I'd hold back a bit if I was an OEM."

Could Lewis' long ties with Mercedes also have influenced his move ahead of this engine supplier change?

[raymondu999]

I get the feeling that with Lewis being a self-admitted Senna fanboy who wants to go with Senna's path, driving a McLaren-Honda would be a massive appeal. Especially if he wins in Suzuka.

[wunderkind]

I get the feeling that with Lewis being a self-admitted Senna fanboy who wants to go with Senna's path, driving a McLaren-Honda would be a massive appeal. Especially if he wins in Suzuka.

I doubt Hamilton has any desire to emulate Ayrton Senna in forging a long-term relationship with anyone but Mercedes-Benz.

I don't have much positive feelings for Honda returning to F1. Their last foray into F1 as a constructor was an embarassment to say the least and their engine was not exactly the world-beater that they'd hoped it to be. They'd probably pull out again after a few unsuccesssful seasons.

Honda lost its Mojo a long time ago.

[Cam]

Tough crowd. Not sure if F1 politics played any part in that?

[FoxHound]

Honda lost its Mojo a long time ago.

Sadly it has, but that could be rediscovered.

On the point of the allure of a McLaren-Honda to Lewis, I doubt this highly. Senna forged his own relationship with Honda, whereby he even had a hand in the handling of the NSX with his very close friend and Honda NSX project leader Shigeru Uehara.

Compare that to Lewis, who's only constant in his career has been Mercedes. Formerly it was McLaren-Mercedes.
His career has more echoes of Schumacher, whereby his desire for new challenges and the creation of his own mystique by resuscitation of old grand prix legend.

Also, we must put into perspective the comments that have been coming from Lewis since he has officially taken up the role of race driver for Mercedes AMG. Not only his comments, but his demeanour.
Relaxed, calm and just more laid back.
Some driver's need to escape at times, and he appeared muzzled and restrained at McLaren. His media gaffes in the last 24 months are probably Freudian slips borne from this stuffy environment.
It works well for some drivers and less so for other's...the contrast between Button and Hamilton was very stark indeed.

But Lewis Hamilton hankering for a McLaren-Honda seat because his idol drove for them? Nah, not for me.

[Nando]

I get the feeling that with Lewis being a self-admitted Senna fanboy who wants to go with Senna's path, driving a McLaren-Honda would be a massive appeal. Especially if he wins in Suzuka.

Not sure how you managed to take that from anything written in this thread.

[Pierce89]

I get the feeling that with Lewis being a self-admitted Senna fanboy who wants to go with Senna's path, driving a McLaren-Honda would be a massive appeal. Especially if he wins in Suzuka.

Not sure how you managed to take that from anything written in this thread.

When did an opinion start having to be derived from previous posts?

[Nando]

When did an opinion start having to be derived from previous posts?

Well in order to be on topic i think it has to actually have something to do with what´s written in the thread don´t you think?

[bhall]

I get the feeling that with Lewis being a self-admitted Senna fanboy who wants to go with Senna's path, driving a McLaren-Honda would be a massive appeal. Especially if he wins in Suzuka.

Translation: It's not exactly unreasonable to posit the notion that McLaren may very well end up in a full-on reenactment of its glory years in the late '80s and early '90s, only this time with Lewis Hamilton eagerly assuming the role of his hero behind the wheel. The suits upstairs at McLaren, Honda, and XIX Entertainment could have a field day with that.

Cha-ching!!!

[raymondu999]

I get the feeling that with Lewis being a self-admitted Senna fanboy who wants to go with Senna's path, driving a McLaren-Honda would be a massive appeal. Especially if he wins in Suzuka.

Translation: It's not exactly unreasonable to posit the notion that McLaren may very well end up in a full-on reenactment of its glory years in the late '80s and early '90s, only this time with Lewis Hamilton eagerly assuming the role of his hero behind the wheel. The suits upstairs at McLaren, Honda, and XIX Entertainment could have a field day with that.

Cha-ching!!!

Precisely my point - and I don't think Lewis would mind it either.

Well in order to be on topic i think it has to actually have something to do with what´s written in the thread don´t you think?

Nando, my post was made in reply to this comment:

Could Lewis' long ties with Mercedes also have influenced his move ahead of this engine supplier change?

To my interpretation this comment implies a possibility that Lewis' decision to move to Brackley was influenced by a desire to stick with a Mercedes team. Apologies if that was unclear.