Honda’s future in Formula One is now in question, with the Japanese manufacturer’s partnerships with McLaren and Sauber both in doubt. According to reports, Honda’s future in the sport relies heavily on the engine supplier’s latest upgrades to the engine.
Honda will have until October to decide whether they are willing to continue their Formula One venture or whether to just axe the program. This deadline was set by Honda recently, as the Honda power unit continues to show very little improvement compared to their debut engine.
Of course, the decision will not be entirely up to Honda, with McLaren and Sauber’s relationships with Honda reportedly on the brink of collapse. There are reports that the Sauber-Honda contract has actually already been terminated. The deadline set by Honda matches up with McLaren’s deadline to keep Fernando Alonso, suggesting that Honda’s decision is fundamental to Alonso’s contract extension.
However, in the event of Honda’s exit, McLaren would likely be stuck with Renault as their only hope. The common opinion among the paddock is that neither Mercedes or Ferrari are interested in supplying an engine to McLaren. However, rumors about a McLaren-Mercedes pairing have been a big topic in the media recently, suggesting otherwise.
Even if Honda stays in Formula One, it’s possible that Sauber could abandon their plan to take on the Honda power unit if 2018, since the deal was largely negotiated by Monisha Kaltenborn, who abruptly left the team. It’s suggested that Honda is not willing to work with Sauber without Kaltenborn leading the way and that the new Sauber leadership will not want to take on a Honda power unit, given all of the negativity surrounding the equipment.
This could mean that Sauber will remain a Ferrari customer in 2018, extending their current contract with the supplier. However, the team is reportedly in talks with the engine suppliers in an attempt to have the supplier’s selected driver fill one of the seats at Sauber in exchange for lower supply costs. This could see Pascal Wehrlein remain with the team if Mercedes partners with Sauber or Antonio Giovinazzi taking over a fulltime seat if Ferrari agrees to a new contract with the team.
Honda’s future will largely be determined by the progress from the team’s engine upgrades applied at the Austrian Grand Prix, as they aim to improve reliability and overall engine performance.
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