[Team] McLaren - can they compete?

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by GT6

I thought Maclaren would use Renault engines next year, but after watching the renault engines yesterday they must be thinking frying oan or fire, however max did have one in his car so perhaps?

Renault say it was a cooling issue on the cars as they were right on the limit, with Max he was out front on his own until lapping back markers, so perhaps that helped with engine cooling and saved his engine?

[GT6]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Renault say it was a cooling issue on the cars as they were right on the limit, with Max he was out front on his own until lapping back markers, so perhaps that helped with engine cooling and saved his engine?

Sp does that mean renault are designing engines that can only run in clean air, so anyone with a car not in the lead either has to back off of blew their engines up, and Maclaren thing that is better than the Honda unit?

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by GT6

Sp does that mean renault are designing engines that can only run in clean air, so anyone with a car not in the lead either has to back off of blew their engines up, and Maclaren thing that is better than the Honda unit?

Renault are saying they were too aggressive with the engine and not taking sufficient account of the altitude, so a Mexicao specific problem, not a general Renault issue. We know that cars running close together increases engine temp, so I am only speculating that Max made it because he was not following other cars as much.

[chillibowl]

first off, congrats to LH! since the summer break hasnt really made any mistakes and generally excellent form over the whole season.

suppose it is a bit natural at this point to rank this title against his other titles.

still a couple of races left this season (so will reserves a full judgement), but given the problems with Ferrari/Vettle's mistakes/no Rosberg i think this year's title still ranks behind his others.

[S griffin]

I hope for McLaren's sake these Renault problems are a one off

[knighty]

This orange McLaren livery just has to happen......its utterly iconic.......Zak, please please make it happen!!!!

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/13...aren-look-like

[S griffin]

I like the look of it too, hopefully Zak will make us all happy

[knighty]

Originally Posted by S griffin

I hope for McLaren's sake these Renault problems are a one off

Renault have recently realised how conservative they have been with the 2017 engine regs, and they are now pushing hard for the remainder of this season in readiness for 2018.......so I see this as a sign of good things to come.

Also I really fees RedBull will get shafted badly by Renault next year, I'm sure they will give them a very low tune of engine in comparison to McLaren, in an attempt to humiliate RedBull and not teach Honda anything.......I have a funny feeling McLaren will be flying next year, Alonso is already gushing about this years chassis

[S griffin]

That’s true, nothing left for them for the rest of this season, so might use this time to iron out any problems with the 2018 engine

[F1Guy]

Alonso visits Toyota, while still contracted to Honda.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/1...t-fitting.html

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Alonso visits Toyota, while still contracted to Honda.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/1...t-fitting.html

He won't be contracted next year and with only 2 GPs left this season, I doubt Honda will kick up too much of a fuss.

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

He won't be contracted next year and with only 2 GPs left this season, I doubt Honda will kick up too much of a fuss.

Too late. The word is Honda are fuming. They have not been happy with Alonso for a while now, but this has very much angered the top brass at Honda.

I think a couple of gift wrapped grid penalties are being delivered to Alonso's garage for the next two rounds.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Too late. The word is Honda are fuming. They have not been happy with Alonso for a while now, but this has very much angered the top brass at Honda.

I think a couple of gift wrapped grid penalties are being delivered to Alonso's garage for the next two rounds.

I can't find anything that suggests Honda are fuming. Grid penalties only really hurt Honda, Alonso has nothing to lose with only two races left.

[peebee2]

Apart from his big-euro point bonuses of course ��

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Too late. The word is Honda are fuming. They have not been happy with Alonso for a while now, but this has very much angered the top brass at Honda.

What has Honda top brass actually said about it? Is there a statement released or a quote from someone inside Honda?

[RWill2073]

Excellent strategy by honda if true. Driver embarrasses us, we penalize him and his car. Must he why they have been terrible. That "gp2 engine" comment really stung. Good old sabotage.

[insane014]

Originally Posted by RWill2073

Excellent strategy by honda if true. Driver embarrasses us, we penalize him and his car. Must he why they have been terrible. That "gp2 engine" comment really stung. Good old sabotage.

I'm surprised Honda didn't make a tight contract regarding PR stuff of things he can't do under any circumstances considering they made him the best paid driver on the grid. Or maybe they did so they are just deducting from his pay. Who knows.

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Grid penalties only really hurt Honda, Alonso has nothing to lose with only two races left.

Originally Posted by F1Guy

I think a couple of gift wrapped grid penalties are being delivered to Alonso's garage for the next two rounds.

See the at the end of my comment. Was just 'having a laugh' as our UK folks would say.

[AndreasDavour]

Honda have already spent a year making themselves look like complete idiots, so who cares if they fume?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by AndreasDavour

Honda have already spent a year making themselves look like complete idiots, so who cares if they fume?

A year? More like three. 4th time lucky?

[Mekola]

Do not understand... Do not understand...

[wnut]

Originally Posted by AndreasDavour

Honda have already spent a year making themselves look like complete idiots, so who cares if they fume?

Proving they're complete idiots?

[Mekola]

In fact, the last Honda win was 2006 Hungarian GP, done by Jenson Button. The last decent season of Honda in Formula 1 up to today (for the moment).

2007-08 seasons of their team were simply strange... With the earthdreams "sponsoring" the car, that made a mistery what they had in their minds about the matter...

During their absence (2009-14) they were concentrated in their engines for Indycars and for their domestic F. Nippon-Super Formula series, then their racing department was active on that time.

And their 2015 return to F1 as an engine maker, is also very strange... With its ups-and-dows, it seems on the last races they're starting to work it out with this, but we have to wait to 2018 to see if that finally flourishes...

I'm sure Honda is still capable to do the things well, but it something that could not understand in this... That's why do not understand...

[S griffin]

They made progress last season, then it seemed to go down the swanny this season and only now are they anything like respectable

[Born Racer]

As the answer no longer seems to be merely a resounding 'no' and McLaren are moving on to Renault engines, I shall remove the word 'Honda' from the thread title to usher in this new era.