Eric Boullier has admitted that McLaren could take a break from Honda in Formula 1 as opposed to a full divorce. This statement follows speculation that the Woking-based team could ditch Honda power at the end of 2018 due to the lack of reliability and performance McLaren face by using uncompetitive Honda engines.
McLaren could take a break from Honda – Eric Boullier
When talking to Sky Sports News, Boullier said: “On paper it’s a good strategy. If you can run a [different] engine for the time being until Honda is competitive, then why not? This is one of the various scenarios we may have considered.”
If a short term break did occur between the once iconic pairing, Sauber would be left as the sole users of Honda power in 2018 which would leave the Swiss team in a research role for the Japanese engine supplier.
A decision regarding McLaren’s future with Honda is expected to be made in the coming weeks according to Boullier, with this statement correlating with Toto Wolff’s who said that McLaren’s engine supplier needs to be resolved by the end of the summer in Baku.
Due to the poor performance of McLaren, questions not only stand on the team’s relationship with Honda but also their star driver, two time world champion Fernando Alonso, with many reports suggesting that Alonso leaving McLaren is already a done deal. Boullier denied this however, and said that McLaren are seeking to keep Alonso at the team for 2018, despite the Spaniard’s management team having talks with Mercedes and Renault at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Last time out in Azerbaijan, McLaren secured their first points finish of 2017, with Fernando Alonso finishing in ninth place. Despite this improved result which was heavily aided by the retirements of many higher starting drivers, McLaren remain in last place in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing Sauber by 3 points.
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