Google+ Jack Leslie F1: Honda Announce Rekindling of McLaren Partnership

16 May 2013

Honda Announce Rekindling of McLaren Partnership


It had been rumoured for some time and earlier in the week; reports suggested it would be a Thursday announced. That day arrived and predictions were correct as it was announced that Honda would return to Formula 1 in 2015 as the official engine supplier for McLaren.

 
(c) Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

The Japanese manufacturer has not been active in the sport since 2008. After two unsuccessful years they decided to pull the plug on the operation, handing ownership over to 2009 champions Brawn GP in a last minute deal. Now their former Brackley base houses the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team.

The announcement means that we will see the return of the iconic partnership, which is perhaps one of the most famous and successful in the sport. It will also see the end of McLaren’s 20 year (well it will be in 2014) tie-up with Mercedes after they joined them for the 1995 season.

Whilst their time with Mercedes has produced success, with three drivers world championships and one constructors, nothing quite measures the triumphant joint-venture of the 1980’s and early 90’s.

Honda previously powered the Woking bases squad to eight world championships, 44 Grand Prix victories and 53 pole positions during their 80 race relationship. More recently they powered the BAR team in 2000 before buying out the team in 2006.

The news means that McLaren will use Mercedes new 1.6 litre V6 Turbo for just one season before switching to Honda, who are already developing their 2015 engine and ERS system (in basics, a more powerful version of KERS).

Discussing the announcement in a press release, McLaren Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh said “It’s fantastic news for everyone who loves Formula 1 to be able to welcome Honda back to Formula 1. Together, we’re about to embark on a new and extremely exciting chapter in McLaren’s history.”

He added “Like McLaren, Honda is a company with motor racing woven into the fabric of its heritage. We’re proud and thrilled to be joining forces once more.” However Whitmarsh knows that they have a lot of work to do. “Both companies are fully aware that we’re embarking on a very demanding journey together,” but they are “hugely committed” to the “success of the partnership” and the team will spend the next 18 months before the engines debut “working together to ensure that we’re fully established and competitive ahead of our first grand prix together in 2015.

(c) Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
Whitmarsh also acknowledged that the “weight” of both firms past achievements lies “heavily” on their shoulders, with lots of pressure to see or replicate the success of their last stint as partners. He concluded “Together we have a great legacy – and we’re utterly committed to maintaining it.”

The Brit also mentioned Mercedes and said that it is important to maintain the “utmost respect” for them and to continue to work “diligently and professionally” for the remaining 18 months of their relationship.


Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co. Ltd said on the announcement that he has the greatest “respect the FIA” for making the rule changes, adding “The new F1 regulations with their significant environmental focus will inspire even greater development of our own advanced technologies and this is central to our participation in F1.”
                      
Continuing, Ito said “Together with McLaren, one of the most distinguished F1 constructors, Honda will mark a new beginning in our challenges in F1.”

Jenson Button, McLaren’s lead driver in 2013, previously raced for Honda when they were a Formula 1 team. He commented on the news, saying that he has had a “long and successful” relationship with the firm already. He “equally” grew up watching the McLaren-Honda era in the late 80’s and early 90’s which still “evokes vivid memories of some of the most dramatic and exciting motor racing the world has ever seen.”

He later said “McLaren-Honda: I know how much passion, success and pride are encapsulated within just those two words. And that’s why I’m so thrilled and excited about what’s not only a fantastic opportunity for the team, but also a great development for Formula 1 fans and the sport as a whole.”

Despite being born in 1990, two years before Honda and McLaren first parted ways, new Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Sergio Perez has “grown up always knowing just how much that era lives on in the hearts and minds of motorsport fans around the world.”

Adding on the development, he admitted that “Honda is one of the greatest ever engine manufacturers,” before continuing to describe their excellence. “But I’d go farther than that” he said, “I believe McLaren-Honda is one of the greatest partnerships in world sport.” Perez added “Everyone in the whole of Formula 1 respects that legacy” and that he knows how determined both sides of the partnership are to “create an era of world championship domination in Formula 1 for a second time.”

So big changes are afoot at McLaren, Vodafone will depart as their title sponsor at the end of 2013 and 12 months later they will wave goodbye to Mercedes after a hugely successful 20 years.

However they will embark on a very exciting second stint with Honda. Despite the Japanese firm being behind on development in comparison to the rest, they have plenty of time to perfect their 2015 engine and will be determined to see the successful partnership return to the forefront once again.

1 comment:

LoboNegro said...

Finally some good news from the Woking House!

Although I'm kind of worried if Honda would like to set their own pilot into the team... for now, it woud mean that JB is in and Checo is out of McLaren.

Checo's got what's left of this season, and 2014 to prove he deserves the seat in the new McLaren-Honda