Honda engines would return with McLaren in 2015 according to the BBC
After the rumors circulated last week about a possible return of Honda as an engine supplier in 2014, the BBC announces that they know the Japanese manufacturer will indeed be on the starting grid with McLaren, but from 2015, as the English team prefers to activate the contractual option they have with Mercedes for 2014.
We echoed last week the rumors of a possible return of Honda for 2014, in the context of regulatory changes aimed at modernizing the engine of Formula 1 cars. The German magazine *Speed Week* discussed this possibility, along with the involvement in the project of Frenchman Gilles Simon, who was responsible for the design and development of engines for Scuderia Ferrari for many years, under the leadership of Paolo Martinelli, before replacing him in 2007 as director of the engine department.
But today, the BBC announces on its website that Honda’s return is confirmed, and that the first client would be McLaren, but only from 2015: « [Honda] decided to return due to the introduction of turbocharged engines equipped with energy recovery technologies. The first to race with Honda engines should be McLaren in 2015 », writes Andrew Benson, chief editor of the F1 section of BBC Sport.
Thus, McLaren would use the new “power unit” from Mercedes in 2014 by activating the option available in its current contract, which runs as is until the end of /f1/actualite/15030-honda-travaillerait-sur-un-moteur-turbo-pour-2014.html: « McLaren has a contract with Mercedes, including two options for the team allowing it to renew for 2014 and then 2015. McLaren should only activate the first of these options », Benson continues.
Let’s clarify that nothing is official yet: while Toto Wolff, director of Mercedes Motorsport, claims that [Mercedes] is seeking a long-term relationship with McLaren as an engine supplier, as often, neither McLaren nor Honda have commented on the matter, as a spokesperson for the Woking team stated: “We never discuss media rumors about our potential partners.”
But at the same time, the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport reports that the Honda V6 is ready and that Honda technicians are already working in Woking to ensure optimal installation in the chassis. It therefore seems possible to consider that the multitude of leaks and the reliability of the BBC almost serve as confirmation of the rumors heard in recent months.
