Honda returns to F1 in 2015

[Pup]

I -think- Merc can buy their way out of the contract.

That would be quite a settlement.

[Richard]

Indeed - without a credible alternative supplier Merc will struggle to palm McLaren off with a cash sweetner. It would take a lot of cash for McLaren to agree to drop back to midfield team due to a poor engine. (assuming they have a decent contract)

Of course a canny Ron Dennis will be manoeuvring to keep all options open, sticking with Merc while arranging a safety net with Honda.

[dren]

I think I read somewhere it is in the ballpark of 30 to 40M buyout. I could be completely wrong though.

[FoxHound]

During the buyout of Brawn, I think the guarantee of supply to McLaren was up until end 2013.

The 2014/15 arrangement remains to be seen, but I believe that one or either party have the capacity to back away.

[ChrisF1]

Potential for Williams-Judd all over again really, but I think that everything will remain civil and Mercedes will partner Mclaren again in 2014.

How long (including dyno testing) are the new V6 engines taking to go from design to the stage where it would be "good enough" for a short term solution?

[dren]

This publication is typically first to post information on Honda. It looks just about done now for 2015.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/economy/bu ... 1303180080

[turbof1]

It is still called an option; the same normal contract conditions probably do not apply concerning clausules. It could be anthing of the following:
-When McLaren signed for the contract with the 2014-2015 options, they paid a certain sum in advance in return for the rights to have engines in those years, but only if they choose to. If Mercedes chooses not to, they will atleast have to pay that sum plus intrest back, and maybe some fines on top.
-It could also be the other way around: Mercedes paid McLaren a sum and in return can force McLaren to take engines in 2014 and 2015. If Mercedes backs out, they don't have to pay anything and they only loose the aformentioned sum.
-More ambigious would be when they have to both agree on the 2014/2015 seasons; the option would in that case only hold a pool of preset conditions on which both parties are binded too when going for a new contract.

[Pup]

Why do you guys think that their contract is up this year? The agreement runs through the end of next season and there are options from that point forward. That's the entire reason for Mercedes not being happy with the timing.

Come on guys, at least google something to find out if it's true before wasting everyone's time debating it.

http://www.f1technical.net/news/13785

Mercedes-Benz: to power McLaren’s Formula 1 cars until 2015

Having begun in 1995, the McLaren/Mercedes-Benz partnership is already one of the longest engine-supply associations in Formula 1 history; 2009 was its 15th consecutive year and 2015 will be its 21st consecutive year, by which time it will have become by some margin the longest such association in Formula 1 history. Both the McLaren Group and Daimler AG were therefore committed to securing its continuation as part of a realigned long-term strategic alliance, and to have provided mechanisms whereby the partnership may continue beyond 2015. The team will continue to be known as Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, its distinctive silver-with-red livery will remain unchanged, and Mercedes-Benz will continue as both an engine supplier and a partner.

[Nando]

Do you have the actual contract? Otherwise you are speculating just as much as the news link.

For all we know Mclaren could have a clause in the contract.

[Richard]

Why do you guys think that their contract is up this year? The agreement runs through the end of next season and there are options from that point forward.

Indeed, the PR from both firms said there are options for McLaren to run Merc engines in 2015. Here's an example http://www.espn.co.uk/mclaren/motorspor ... 59336.html

I'm sure 2015 was a strategic decision too rather than just a nice number. As I recall the 2014 engine regs should have taken place in 2013 but were delayed for a year. So the Merc engine supply was designed to give McLaren 3 years of running the new engine format before changing supplier.

That would mean they avoided a double whammy of new supplier with new regs. They could navigate the complex transition with a known partner based on good faith they'd have 3 years working together. they would then find a new partner once the engine regs had settled down. It also allows them to find a new partner with 3 years knowledge of the regs.

Compress the 3 years to 2 years, factor in negotiations for a new supplier (12-18 months?) and we end up with McLaren negotiating with a new supplier at the same time as trying to develop the new engine with Merc. The original plan had a buffer between those phases but it gets awkward when they start to collide.

[FW17]

I don't see Honda having a technical edge as they did in the 80's when their ECU tech was ahead of others.

[dren]

Heard a rumor Honda might power Saubers as customers.

[beelsebob]

Heard a rumor Honda might power Saubers as customers.

Sauce.

[muhammadtalha-13]

i would love to see Ranault return as Works Team. Wonder what would redbull do then

[beelsebob]

i would love to see Ranault return as Works Team. Wonder what would redbull do then

Renault *has* returned as a works team – RedBull gets works engine supply.