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McLaren chief executive Zak Brown has admitted to "serious concerns" over the viability of the Formula 1 team's continued partnership with engine supplier Honda, saying the relationship is approaching its "limit".
Brown's public acknowledgment of McLaren's disappointment with the results of the Japanese marque's current work has come in the lead-up to the Canadian Grand Prix, alongside a confirmation that the first major performance upgrade for the 2017 Honda engine will not be racing in Montreal.
The McLaren-Honda partnership has so far endured a miserable start to the F1 2017 campaign, as the new Honda power unit has struggled for performance and reliability. McLaren has not finished in the top 10 in any of the first six races of the campaign, marking its worst start to an F1 season since the team's inception.
Speaking to Reuters, Brown said: "The executive committee have now given us our marching orders. We're not going to go into another year like this, in hope.
"I don't want to get into what our options are. Our preference is to win the world championship with Honda. But at some point you need to make a decision as to whether that's achievable. And we have serious concerns.
"Missing upgrades, and upgrades not delivering to the level we were told they were going to, you can only take that so long. And we're near our limit."
McLaren has spent much of the past three seasons at or near the back of the F1 pecking order since the renewal of its historic partnership with Honda in 2015, and Brown has given a clear indication the British team couldn't afford to wait much longer.
"So far it hasn't worked. A year in Formula 1 is an eternity. Three years is a decade. And you can't just go on forever."
Earlier in the year, McLaren was understood to have had a preliminary discussion with its former engine supplier Mercedes
Brown, who had previously ruled out McLaren producing its own engines, said he believed a customer team could win in F1.
Following months of uncertainty about what McLaren will do regarding its 2018 engine plans, it is now understood that the Woking-based team has finally lost all patience with Honda’s ability to deliver in the short term.
Detailed analysis of reported gains that engine consultants Ilmor have helped Honda to are believed to have been insufficient to ease McLaren’s concerns about a lack of progress from the Japanese manufacturer.
And with time running out to make a call on its 2018 engine plans, especially amid pressure to ensure Alonso commits to a fresh deal, McLaren’s focus is now on putting in place what’s needed to end its Honda era and secure a supply of Renault power units.
Tangled web
There remain several hurdles to overcome involving many parties before a switch happens though, which means there is no guarantee yet that McLaren will get what it wants.
One source suggested, however, that it is not a case of whether or not the team splits with Honda, but more a question of how complicated, or even messy, things get to achieve that.
The simplest way for McLaren to achieve its aim is to convince Honda to tie up with Toro Rosso for 2018 and beyond. That would free up Toro Rosso’s Renault engine supply deal, which can then easily be shifted across to McLaren.
A Toro Rosso switch for Honda makes sense on many levels – for it will ensure a financial boost for the Faenza-based team, will keep Honda in F1 and will help McLaren’s future competitiveness.
Talks about such a scenario playing out have already reached an advanced stage and are ongoing, despite them appearing to have collapsed over the summer.
Subsequent denials from Toro Rosso and Honda that there had been any ‘official talks’ about the matter were intriguingly dispelled by McLaren last weekend as the team revealed it had been asked to supply gearboxes for any potential deal.
However, sources suggest that Honda is not especially eager to make the jump to Toro Rosso – and does not want to give up on McLaren.
That means there is a current stand-off between McLaren and Honda over the situation, with neither party able to make a move forward for matters to reach a conclusion.
However, time pressures are now mounting and it is understood that Toro Rosso has laid down a Monza deadline for a decision to be made on what it will be doing in 2018.
It means that McLaren and Honda need to move things forward quickly with regards to what they are doing in the future to stop Toro Rosso from being unable to make the switch.
Breaking the contract
With McLaren believed to be adamant it will not carry on with Honda in 2018, it means that if the Toro Rosso situation does not open up, then there is a possible risk of McLaren needing to break its current engine contract – something that could potentially get legally messy.
That would force Honda out of F1 too, something that bosses at Liberty Media are not eager to see.
It would, at the same time, open up a scenario where FIA rules dictate that one of the remaining engine manufacturers must supply McLaren with engines for 2018.
Renault remains the most likely preferred option in this scenario, even though there is reluctance to expand to a fourth supply.
But with regulations dictating that teams must be guaranteed an engine, Renault could be left with no choice but to go up to four teams.
Alonso future
A switch of engine suppliers is believed to be key to McLaren securing the services of Fernando Alonso for 2018, too.
It is understood that the Spaniard has indicated in private that, if McLaren is able to secure a supply of Renault engines for next year, then he will remain on board.
The progress made with the chassis – which was able to help him take Pouhon flat out last weekend – and a new era, now that Ron Dennis has gone, have left Alonso encouraged about the capabilities of the team.
The only issue for him remains the power unit and, with Alonso having given up on Honda’s ability to make progress, his desire for a Renault engine has added further impetus for McLaren to call time on its relationship with the Japanese marque.
In the aftermath of his frustrating race in Belgium, Alonso quite succinctly summed up exactly what he wants for 2018.
“There needs to be one change only,” he said.
Right now, that is exactly what McLaren is pushing to deliver.
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