It is impossible to deny that F1 is not constantly evolving. In fact, all teams are already starting to think about the exchange of regulation of 2026, when one was already introduced only last season. The first agreements between teams and engine makers have begun to blossom, and there are no less than 6 of them subscribers to the new regulation. Audi–Sauber, Ford-Red Bull/AlphaTauri are the two couples who will unite from 2026. However, there is one engine manufacturer who has not yet found a team to lean on, Honda. Precisely with regard to the Japanese brand, the rumors speak of a flashback with McLaren. But let's see what's going on.
McLaren-Honda: first contacts
The most important theme of this future regulation change is certainly the issue power units, with an increase in the power of the MGU-K and the removal of the MGU-H, as well as new functions that will make the engine more and more ibrido. Consequently, all the stables want to insure themselves the best In circulation. We already know who the suppliers will be, namely Audi, Porsche, Alpine, Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull Powertrains and Honda. The central theme of these days is based precisely on the latter.
The Japanese house, in 2020, had made its known take the exit (uscita) from F1 after the 2021 season, while continuing to lend a hand to the Austrians on PU until 2025. The CEO of the company, Toshihiro Mibe, during the last season, he understood that he had probably made a wrong choice, so much so that he took a step back and enroll tender to build engines for racing teams, but without disclosing who will be the team(s) concerned. Well, as reported by the well-known online head TheRace.com, these days, there would have been some first contacts between Honda and McLaren, who would be interested in a possible return in the old days: in fact, the Wokey team had collaborated with them from 2015 to 2017, obtaining results not suitable to the fame of the team, thus deciding to switch to Mercedes Benz.
The flashback
Now, given the giant steps taken by the Tokyo company in these two years, the multiple world champion team is seriously considering a "backfire", to erase all the bad memories of the beginning of the hybrid era (remember the iconic radio team of Fernando Alonso "GP2 Engine") and to build a future prosperous.
ARTICLE BY: FRANCESCO ORLANDO
Source: The Race
