Honda to return
- This topic has 45 replies, 23 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 11 months ago by AngrySteve.
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- 4th March 2013, 13:47 at 1:47 pm #1327664th March 2013, 13:55 at 1:55 pm #227964JourneyerParticipant
A little more detail other than the link would be nice.
But all I can say: it’s about time. And if there’s one way to ease the pain from 2009, it’s to win a title with McLaren.
4th March 2013, 14:02 at 2:02 pm #227965BenHParticipantNo doubt this is just another in a long list of Benson speculation I would say. Nowadays I tend to ignore everything he says as it is almost always wild conjecture designed to get people to the site.
4th March 2013, 14:07 at 2:07 pm #227966andae23ParticipantI saw the following tweet from Benson on Twitter and I would have been perplexed if I didn’t know Benson’s working policy:
https://twitter.com/andrewbensonf1/status/308569595210522625
I doubt it.4th March 2013, 14:08 at 2:08 pm #227967ChalkyParticipantReading that link it’s more of a rumour. No one can or wants to confirm or deny it.
4th March 2013, 14:37 at 2:37 pm #227968GeeMacParticipantIt is all pretty speculative stuff at the moment. As @benh mentioned, Benson does have a history of writing these sorts of articles to try and get more people to visit his site.
Still, from a pure nostalgia point of view it would be fantastic to have McLaren Hondas completing against Williams Renaults again! From a sporting point of view it would be great too because Honda have a great history and certainly have the know-how to produce a good V6-turbo. There is a risk for McLaren though: Honda did leave McLaren High and dry in 1992 and they pulled out at the end of 2008…not exactly the sort of behaviour you would want from a possible long term partner!
4th March 2013, 14:58 at 2:58 pm #227969bag0ParticipantI would love to see a McLaren-Honda with Button. My favourite team, with my favourite car manufacturers engine, with my favourute driver. But seriously, Honda just started their new porject with touring cars, and Im not sure if they want to jump into two swimming pools at the same time. We can always hope, but to state it as a fact, and then writing it is not confirmed yet, is a bit bold.
Heck, what has not been confirmed yet? The switch, the honda return, the McLaren-Honda link? None.So until they have something solid, I will cheer for the Zengo-Honda, with Michelisz at the wheel. (And of course after that too:))
4th March 2013, 15:24 at 3:24 pm #227970John HParticipantThe article in 4 lines (with direct quotes):
“McLaren are to use Honda engines”
“…the engine manufacturer has decided to return”then…
“The company has not yet officially confirmed its plans to return.”
“Honda would become the fourth road-car manufacturer supplying engines in F1″Interesting if true, but in summary, an article designed to grab attention at the start, fading into speculation as you read on. One more click on the bbc sport website… success!
4th March 2013, 16:11 at 4:11 pm #227971JerseyF1ParticipantThis isn’t the only (or first) report of a potential Mclaren Honda tie-up
http://www.worldcarfans.com/113030354543/honda-engineers-already-at-mclaren—report
It certainly sounds like there is some discussion about this. Could Honda start work on an engine for 2014 and then try to benchmark it against the other manufacturers for a later decision for 2015 in time for Mclaren to make a decision on the extension option?
Given Mclaren’s move into road cars which is in direct competition to Mercedes a switch to another manufacturer who is in a different segment of the market seems sensible too and with Ferrari and Renault unlikely customer options this would tick all of the boxes.
4th March 2013, 19:00 at 7:00 pm #227972JourneyerParticipantBenson can be pretty horrendous when it comes to editorials, but he’s always been spot-on with scoops. Damon Hill sacked from Williams, Button to McLaren, Schumi to Mercedes, Lewis to Mercedes – he got all of those right on the money. Given that the McLaren-Honda rumor has been around for ages (and actually started to pick up again 2-3 days before Benson published this), I’d say that Benson is right – again.
I’m not sure what he has to do to get your trust, TBH. ;)
4th March 2013, 19:30 at 7:30 pm #227973MattBParticipantWhen McLaren first went to Mercedes, they changed colour to silver to replicate the Silver Arrow. Do you think this could be the much awaited return of the McLaren Orange?
4th March 2013, 20:05 at 8:05 pm #227974AnonymousInactiveIf Honda makes it back in 2015…. then 2014 is going to be Mercedes´ only shot at a title…. Honda have already produced bullet proof turbo engines using the nsx´s 3.2liter v6…. cut that by half and they´ve got the 1.6 turbo v6 they want….
It´s really gonna get nasty if Honda gets back into it!! Another epic era of F1 is in the works!!!!4th March 2013, 20:29 at 8:29 pm #227975BenHParticipant@Journeyer yes he got those right, but throw enough “stuff” at a wall then you are bound to have something stick. There seems to be an awful lot of other “stories” that are well wide of the mark. Also, the Lewis to Merc story came to light first from EJ, not Benson.
I really would love it if it was true, but Im not holding my breath over a Benson article. Only a few sources I trust nowadays, so unless I hear it from Ted Kravitz, James Allen or our very own Keith then I wont believe it (or obviously a direct press release).
4th March 2013, 20:35 at 8:35 pm #227976Antonio NarteaParticipantWhether Benson’s article is pure speculation or not, it doesn’t matter anymore. There’s too much noise around Honda at the moment for nothing to happen. There’s no smoke without a fire, all that sort of thing.
Personally, I think it’s not a matter of whether Honda will return or not, it’s a matter of when it will happen and if it will happen with McLaren, or an independent works team, or both…
Think about it. Honda already pretty much have the engine (not per-se but they could sort it out rather quickly compared to the level of development required by Mercedes or Ferrari, par example), there’s talks with McLaren, two free spots on the entry list for 2014, at least two teams that could go up for sale any given moment (Marussia and Force India) and a possible engine shortage (with Renault looking to limit the number of teams they supply and the Mercedes and Ferrari engines being quite expensive). These are all wide-open doors for Honda to enter the sport come 2014 or 2015.
I truly don’t think they are pondering whether they should come back to F1 or not. I think that decision has already been taken. I think they are trying to find the best option in terms of how and when they will make a comeback. Associating themselves with McLaren is just the most “popular” decision they could make, ergo the one that gets most of the attention from the fans and the media.
And I completely agree with @catracho504 here, Honda has the know how and the experience to place itself in contention very quickly. And yes, it’s gonna get nasty!
4th March 2013, 20:54 at 8:54 pm #227977 - AuthorPosts
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