2019 Mclaren F1 Team - Renault

[Xero]

We have to remember that the Mercedes PU deal has been in the works for 2 years now. It fell through at the end of 2017 due to McLaren missing a Mercedes deadline, to which McLaren opted for a 3 year deal with Renault instead. It was always going to be a stop gap, and gave McLaren time to rebuild the team and get them back up the field. Trying to think back to the Renault announcement, I distinctly remember getting the feeling it was a temporary arrangement back then, and that something else was to follow (building their own engines was my first thought).

Seidl has obviously had an influence in pulling the trigger on it very early, as design on the 2021 car has almost certainly entered R&D with the big reg changes coming. Knowing what PU will be in the back of it is critical knowledge, even at this early stage. The announcement of it to the public may have been forced with all these rumours building up momentum.

[604gtir]

To be honest i never really 'felt' the McLaren-Renault combo. It's not really a match imo. Mclaren-Mercedes seems much more fitting.

How so?

McLaren and Renault Sport/Alpine cars are much more analogous in driving philosophy than McLaren and Mercedes cars. Renault's Alpine A110 could almost be considered a cut-priced baby McLaren.

There was a very large clash in philosophy when the McLaren Mercedes SLS was built -- with neither party happy with the result. McLaren preferring more of a hardcore driver's car, Mercedes preferring more of an isolated luxury cruiser.

McLaren and Seidl probably see it as a win win situation

After all the incredible efforts of Renault Sport F1 in supplying utterly superb power units to McLaren, it is not a very nice way for McLaren to repay Renault.

Red Bull partnered with Renault for 12 seasons, yet McLaren are only willing to stick to the superb French engines for 3 seasons!?

if the mercedes has 1 or 2 less failures or penalty results per season per driver that could result in one or 2 greater positions on the constructors championship.

Thats worth 3-8m per season. That in itself is a cost savings imo

[FittingMechanics]

The deal with Renault was for 2 years and they had to sign a new one for 2021, the options for Mclaren were either Renault or Mercedes given that Ferrari wouldn’t give them an engine and RBR would probably veto a Honda engine for Mclaren (I don’t think that the bad blood from the latest Honda-Mclaren saga would have been as big of an issue, since this is business and smart people leave their emotions behind if a deal makes sense)...

To be fair, it does seem like Honda is holding a grudge. Apparently Honda did not want to work with McLaren in IndyCar forcing McLaren to go with Chevrolet engines instead of Honda (their preferred partner Andretti runs Honda). Not sure if the information is correct but it does seem like Honda of Japan is not interested in working with Alonso specifically and McLaren. It does not make sense to me, best way to dispel GP2 engine would be to make McLaren a winning car (even if it is in IndyCar) powered by a Honda in the back.

From a Mercedes perspective, the deal also makes sense... They have one more revenue stream by selling engines to a 3rd team, Mclaren will probably (because it’s never a guarantee) perform better than the likes of Racing Point and Williams and because of the pedigree and history of Mclaren is an stronger brand to be associated with... Mclaren also brings additional exposure to the Mercedes brand which is another welcomed benefit of supplying Mclaren.

This could be a second contingency, having a protection against supplying RBR. However I doubt Honda will pull the plug soon. They got their win this year, might get a few more with luck, this is great success for them and they won't leave.

[kfrantzios]

Ok we have a Mercedes engine. What about fuel and lubricants? Castrol, Petronas or Petrobras?

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[SmallSoldier]

The deal with Renault was for 2 years and they had to sign a new one for 2021, the options for Mclaren were either Renault or Mercedes given that Ferrari wouldn’t give them an engine and RBR would probably veto a Honda engine for Mclaren (I don’t think that the bad blood from the latest Honda-Mclaren saga would have been as big of an issue, since this is business and smart people leave their emotions behind if a deal makes sense)...

To be fair, it does seem like Honda is holding a grudge. Apparently Honda did not want to work with McLaren in IndyCar forcing McLaren to go with Chevrolet engines instead of Honda (their preferred partner Andretti runs Honda). Not sure if the information is correct but it does seem like Honda of Japan is not interested in working with Alonso specifically and McLaren. It does not make sense to me, best way to dispel GP2 engine would be to make McLaren a winning car (even if it is in IndyCar) powered by a Honda in the back.

From a Mercedes perspective, the deal also makes sense... They have one more revenue stream by selling engines to a 3rd team, Mclaren will probably (because it’s never a guarantee) perform better than the likes of Racing Point and Williams and because of the pedigree and history of Mclaren is an stronger brand to be associated with... Mclaren also brings additional exposure to the Mercedes brand which is another welcomed benefit of supplying Mclaren.

This could be a second contingency, having a protection against supplying RBR. However I doubt Honda will pull the plug soon. They got their win this year, might get a few more with luck, this is great success for them and they won't leave.

I also believe and wish that Honda will stay, it only adds up to the Championship and it’s great to have a 4th manufacturer involved... Nevertheless, the lack of an statement in regards to their commitment to Formula 1... The comments from RBR in regards to how important it is to have a good showing in Japan make me think that a decision hasn’t been made yet and they need a good result to convince Honda to stay.


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[RonDennis]

Ok we have a Mercedes engine. What about fuel and lubricants? Castrol, Petronas or Petrobras?

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I expect to use the same lubricants and fuel, just rebadged for their sponsor. I doubt they will make that mistake again.

German media also reported that Renault wanted a closer relationship, sharing parts and gearbox. McLaren wasn’t interested.

[ScottR267]

Ok we have a Mercedes engine. What about fuel and lubricants? Castrol, Petronas or Petrobras?

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Well rumours were that Petrobras wish to pull their sponsorship. Also McLaren aren’t even using their products despite this year being the year they would. I’d suspect and imagine they would use Petronas with the Merc engine.

I must commend Zak, he’s been very shrewd over the last 2 years or so with the reorganisation and moving on off the old guard and bringing in top personnel in Seidl and Key (there could be other engineers too but nothing in the media) as well as multiple new sponsors to the team and cars. The cars were looking very light on sponsors towards the end of Ron’s tenure. Here’s to hoping McLaren can keep hiring good personnel and attract a title sponsor to really solidify McLaren being back to how many of us want them to be...

[trinidefender]

Ok we have a Mercedes engine. What about fuel and lubricants? Castrol, Petronas or Petrobras?

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Well rumours were that Petrobras wish to pull their sponsorship. Also McLaren aren’t even using their products despite this year being the year they would. I’d suspect and imagine they would use Petronas with the Merc engine.

I must commend Zak, he’s been very shrewd over the last 2 years or so with the reorganisation and moving on off the old guard and bringing in top personnel in Seidl and Key (there could be other engineers too but nothing in the media) as well as multiple new sponsors to the team and cars. The cars were looking very light on sponsors towards the end of Ron’s tenure. Here’s to hoping McLaren can keep hiring good personnel and attract a title sponsor to really solidify McLaren being back to how many of us want them to be...

I believe it was stated that McLaren use Petrobras gearbox oil but engine and other lubricants are the same as Renault.

[Lucky]

https://thejudge13.com/2019/10/01/joini ... ks-status/

[genarro]

wouldnt it be great if this were to be true..Mclaren could get even some of the personel from Merc as well as a works deal for engines..

lets wait and see

[loner]

don't hold your breath, TJ13 is bad for health.

[bauc]

https://thejudge13.com/2019/10/01/joini ... ks-status/

This website is known for having somewhat relevant info, but most of the times, they are creating click bait headlines, and when you actually read the article you find there is nothing ''new'' or ''surprising'' in it...its just the same story flipped upside down

[Ground Effect]

https://thejudge13.com/2019/10/01/joini ... ks-status/

More guesswork and hedging bets. The judge is pretty much a sensationalist, nothing can be relied upon.

[diffuser]

Why would McLaren be works team over RP and William's?

[godlameroso]

History, the fact McLaren has a better chance of winning than RP or Williams currently.