Former champions McLaren will swap their Honda engines for Renault ones at the end of the Formula One season after calling time on a troubled three-year partnership marked by frustration and failure.
Honda will stay in Formula One, replacing Renault as engine supplier to Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso whose Spanish driver Carlos Sainz moves to the French team on loan for the 2018 season.
The major shake-up, announced at the Singapore Grand Prix on Friday, ends McLaren and Honda's dream of recreating the glory years of the late 1980s and early 90s when Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost were dominant.
"For a combination of reasons our partnership has not flourished as any of us would have wished," McLaren executive director Zak Brown said in a statement.
"It is certainly not for the want of effort on the part of either Honda or McLaren, but the time has come to move ahead in different directions."
Honda Motor Co. President Takahiro Hachigo expressed regret at a move that had become an open secret, and thanked Formula One's owners Liberty Media and the governing FIA for their part in the dealmaking with Toro Rosso.
"It is unfortunate that we must part ways with McLaren before fulfilling our ambitions, however, we made the decision with a belief that this is the best course of action for each other's future," he said.
Fernando Alonso, the double world champion whose outbursts at Honda’s shortcomings have become a regular feature of race broadcasts, is expected to stay at McLaren.
The 36-year-old Spaniard, who won his world titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, was not mentioned in the statements but has made having a competitive engine a key demand.
BUBBLE BURST
McLaren and Honda revived their partnership at the start of 2015 amid a burst of optimism but that bubble was swiftly pricked.
Honda has struggled to catch up with rivals and master the sport’s complex turbo hybrid engine regulations. McLaren are now ninth out of 10 in the constructors' standings and have scored only 11 points from 13 races.
The team founded by the late New Zealander Bruce McLaren have won eight constructors' championships, 12 drivers' titles and 182 races but are without a victory since the end of 2012.
Owned largely by Bahrain's Mumtalakat Holding Company and Saudi-born businessman Mansour Ojjeh, McLaren have gone through internal upheaval with former boss Ron Dennis forced out last November and Brown brought in.
Brown said this month that the choice of engine partners, with Honda contributing more than $100 million a year to McLaren's budget according to insiders, was one of the biggest decisions the team has had to make.
"Fortunately, we have extremely committed shareholders (so) that we can make a sporting decision and deal with the economics," he said then.
Renault engines have powered Red Bull to six wins since the start of the Mercedes-dominated turbo-hybrid era in 2014, most recently with Australian Daniel Ricciardo at this year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
McLaren will be hoping to be up there too next year and Renault, who have their own works team, looked forward to the challenge.
"This is a strategic decision," said Renault Sport Racing president Jerome Stoll. "This alliance is not only technical and sporting, but also comes with marketing and communication benefits.
"We know that McLaren will push us hard on track and this competition will be to the benefit of all."
The split also removes Honda from the intense and increasingly embarrassing scrutiny the manufacturer has endured.
"Honda and Toro Rosso will work as one team to strive for progress and a successful future together," said Hachigo.
Reuters
Fri Sep 15 2017
General view of McLaren's Stoffel Vandoorne's car taken in Singapore on Sept 15, 2017. - REUTERS
[TERKINI] Malaysia mengalu-alukan resolusi UNGA
Malaysia mengalu-alukan penerimaan pakai Resolusi Perhimpunan Agung Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (UNGA) pada Sidang Khas Darurat Kesepuluh yang disambung semula pada 10 Mei 2024.
Putrajaya dalam satu kenyataan pada Sabtu berkata, Malaysia bersama dengan 77 Negara Anggota, mengundi dan menyokong Resolusi itu, sejajar dengan pendiriannya yang tidak berbelah bahagi dan telah lama berpegang pada perjuangan Palestin.
Putrajaya dalam satu kenyataan pada Sabtu berkata, Malaysia bersama dengan 77 Negara Anggota, mengundi dan menyokong Resolusi itu, sejajar dengan pendiriannya yang tidak berbelah bahagi dan telah lama berpegang pada perjuangan Palestin.
Sebuah video serangan ke atas Israel dikeluarkan Hamas
Sebuah rakaman dikeluarkan Hamas pada Jumaat, mendakwa melakukan serangan ke atas tentera Israel di kawasan kejiranan di Bandar Gaza dan melepaskan bom di Beersheba, Israel.
Sebuah kenyataan pada video yang disiarkan di Telegram oleh Sayap Bersenjata Hamas, menunjukkan serangan ke atas sekumpulan penembak tepat Israel di selatan kejiranan Al-Zaytoun di Bandar Gaza dan pengeboman ke atas "bandar yang diduduki" Beersheba.
Sebuah kenyataan pada video yang disiarkan di Telegram oleh Sayap Bersenjata Hamas, menunjukkan serangan ke atas sekumpulan penembak tepat Israel di selatan kejiranan Al-Zaytoun di Bandar Gaza dan pengeboman ke atas "bandar yang diduduki" Beersheba.
[INFOGRAFIK] N.06 Kuala Kubu Baharu, calon PN, Khairul Azhari Saut
Berikut adalah sedikit infografik berkenaan calon PN, Khairul Azhari Saut. Sila klik video untuk berita selanjutnya.
PRK KKB: Berkerusi roda, bertongkat demi pilih wakil rakyat
Kerusi rodanya meluncur perlahan memasuki pusat pengundian selepas melakukan perjalanan 500 meter dari kediamannya.
[INFOGRAFIK] N0.6 Kuala Kubu Baharu, calon Perpaduan, Pan Sock Tao
Berikut adalah sedikit infografik berkenaan calon Perpaduan, Pan Sock Tao. Sila klik video untuk berita selanjutnya.
Pasangan warga emas redah 200 km demi PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu
Abdul Rahim Bidin dan Noraini Mansor bergerak selepas subuh dan selesai membuang undi di SJKC Khing Ming sekitar jam 8.30 pagi.
Buletin AWANI Khas: Kuala Kubu Baharu memilih
Kylian Mbappe sah tinggalkan PSG
Penyerang berusia 25 tahun itu tidak akan menyambung kontraknya, selepas hampir tujuh musim beraksi bersama kelab terkemuka Perancis itu.
Muhammad Khairi, Normawaty dinobat qari dan qariah Melaka 2024
Normawaty sama sekali tidak menyangka memenangi pertandingan pada tahun ini selepas lima kali menyertai program tilawah itu sejak 2008.
Op Gegar: 39 individu termasuk 29 GRO warga asing ditahan
Penahanan dilakukan selepas pemeriksaan dijalankan terhadap 82 individu dalam Op Gegar bermula 11 malam tadi hingga 2 pagi tadi.
F1: Hamilton beri penghargaan kepada penonton di Silverstone
Ketinggalan kepada Verstappen dengan 32 mata dalam saingan Kejohanan Pemandu, Hamilton meraih momentum di Silverstone selepas mengatasi pelumba kelahiran Belanda itu dalam aksi kelayakan.
F1: Grand Prix Turki dibatalkan
Aksi itu akan digantikan dengan perlumbaan kedua di Austria.
Hamilton harap kelab kegemarannya kembali menyerlah
Juara dunia tujuh kali F1 Lewis Hamilton berharap kelab bola sepak kegemarannya, Arsenal akan bangkit kembali selepas menerima banyak kritikan daripada peminat dan menjadi bahan ejekan di internet.
Grand Prix Vietnam dikeluar dari kalendar 2021
Langkah menarik keluar dari senarai itu dibuat berikutan terdapat kes rasuah melibatkan seorang pegawai tertinggi yang bertanggungjawab bagi perlumbaan di Hanoi itu.
Keadaan terkini Michael Schumacher, koma atau sudah sedar?
Luca Badoer, bekas rakan sekerja Schumacher di Ferrari mengatakan hanya isterinya yang memilih siapa yang dibenarkan untuk berkunjung.
Vettel patut pilih untuk bersara - Jackie Stewart
Vettel mengakui sebelum menandatangani dengan Aston Martin bahawa bersara adalah pilihan yang sedang dipertimbangkan, dan Stewart berasakan meninggalkan F1 pasti menjadi pilihan yang baik.
Grand Prix di Brazil, AS mungkin dibatalkan
Formula One masih berharap agar dapat melangsungkan antara 15 dan 18 perlumbaan sepanjang tahun ini.
Button terkejut dengan keputusan Vettel tinggalkan Ferrari
Vettel menafikan wang adalah alasan pemergiannya, dengan menyatakan kedua-dua pihak "tidak mempunyai keinginan untuk tetap bersama."
COVID-19: Perlumbaan F1 Grand Prix Shanghai ditunda
Perlumbaan F1 Grand Prix Shanghai yang dijadualkan berlangsung 19 April depan, telah ditunda susulan wabak COVID-19 yang melanda China.
Michael Schumacher sedang terima rawatan di Paris
Lagenda Formula One, Michael Schumacher dilaporkan sedang menerima rawatan di sebuah hospital di Paris.