iotar__ wrote: ↑10 Sep 2017, 11:09
1. Leaving Sainz's lack of track achievements aside, how is "getting" McLaren great for Renault assuming they're getting better engine? It's making their closest competitor better.
It's a prestige thing. As much as I like TR they're still a junior player. If you were Renault who would you want showcasing your engine, a B-Team, or one of the sports biggest teams. Yes at some point it's more competition for the Renault works team but for now they seem open about the fact they can't challenge for a few years anyway.
iotar__ wrote: ↑10 Sep 2017, 11:09
2. How is Rb a winner if they're not involved and it's based on not existent '19 season where TR and RB (with the Honda engine?) are beating Renault? RB and TR are already beating Renault, no need to wait for '19
RB is winner because it gives them options in the future. TR is their test bed team, and if Honda stays crap okay TR will suffer next year but RB won't be affected, but they've wanted to ditch Renault for a while and if the Honda engine comes good as RB is betting it will then they won't allow TR to keep an exclusive Honda engine, they'll strap it to their car too.
iotar__ wrote: ↑10 Sep 2017, 11:09
3. Honda upping their game is just a possibility but smaller team/new chassis and change itself is not helping them at all. "Many people here" that are mostly wrong about everything and are giving each other points should know that.
4. Starting point is McLaren and Sauber refusing Honda deal, the latter using gearbox excuse. Toro Rosso will have to build their own I guess (?) which is a performance/resources cost on top of another engine related redesign, third in four years. Considering McL's integration problems much smaller organization as TR will get set of problems with that.
I know most people are just being hopeful and telling themselves Honda are improving
but I think recently there is hope. TR being a smaller outfit may hurt with integration, but as Honda don't involve McLaren with actual engine building it shouldn't harm engine progress.
Plus we don't know how much money Honda will have agreed to provide TR. It could help to up their game even with the late redesign needed. And with McLaren pushing Honda out if TR willingly embrace the manufacturer it may win them some loyalty points from the Japanese.
It's a gamble, but if the Honda engine comes good, and they bring more cash to TR who we know can build a good car sometimes... It could be an exciting development year next year... If they have the right drivers.
But if it is a good year, definitely expect RB to switch to Honda and take the extra money and "favoured team" status away from TR and give it to themselves in 2019.