McLaren-Honda F1 Team Tag

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief McLaren F1 have confirmed that Jenson Button will replace Indianapolis 500-bound Fernando Alonso for the Monaco Grand Prix on May 28. It was announced on Wednesday that Alonso would be competing for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil in a McLaren-branded Honda entry with Andretti Autosport. The unique situation brings the 37-year-old Brit back after a stepping out of the cockpit at the end of last season. Having spent time since as an ambassador for McLaren and as a reserveRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief McLaren has set the launch date for its 2017 Formula 1 machine for February 24, three days prior to pre-season testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain. The Woking-based team made the announcement via Twitter and becomes the fifth team to confirm its launch plans. Honda, the teams engine supplier, has already announced plans to introduce an almost entirely designed power unit, which is rumored to be similar to Mercedes in that it could feature a split turbo with a connecting shaft going through the engineRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief It has been confirmed by McLaren that engine supplier Honda will bring in a redesigned power unit for the 2017 Formula 1 season. The Japanese manufacturer returned to the sport in 2015, scoring a woeful 27 points as McLaren-Honda only managed to finish ninth in the constructors’ standings. However, 2016 saw a dramatic improvement as the Woking-based team scored 76 points and finished sixth in the constructors’ standings with Fernando Alonso finishing fifth on two occasions (Canadian Grand Prix, U.S. Grand Prix). The team’s technical director,Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Jenson Button is set to start last in the Japanese Grand Prix after taking a new power unit following qualifying. Honda had introduced an upgraded power unit for McLaren-Honda teammate Fernando Alonso for the Malaysia Grand Prix last weekend, the same that Button was waiting until the United States Grand Prix for in hopes to avoid a grid penalty at Honda’s home race at Suzuka. However, the 36-year-old Brit qualified a disappointing 17th and Honda decided the penalty is minimal and have upgraded Button’s power unitRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Fernando Alonso will take a 15-place grid penalty after McLaren-Honda fitted new power unit components to his car ahead of final practice on Saturday. The 35-year-old Spaniard had already taken a 30-place penalty following a new power unit for Friday’s practice, in which Honda upgraded the engine block and the exhaust in an effort to reduce weight. Originally the plan was to revert to a previous engine for qualifying and the race, but now the team opted to the older engine with a new turbocharger andRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Current McLaren-Honda driver and two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso is debating leaving the sport once his contract expires next season if the 2017 regulations fail to bring back enjoyment into grand prix racing. “I think in the last couple of years especially with this turbo engine era I think the car is a little different to drive,” said Alonso, in Thursday’s press conference at Spa-Francorchamps. “I don’t say that’s better or worse, everyone will have his opinion, I’ve been lucky enough to drive 2003Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Fernando Alonso will have to start from the back of the grid for this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix after requiring an engine change following first practice. The Spaniard suffered a water leak in the ERS in FP1 in the wake of Honda spent seven tokens for a major power unit upgrade that debuted at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The Mclaren-Honda F1 Team confirmed that the two-time Formula 1 world champion will need new ICE, MGU-H, MGU-K, turbo, energy store and control electronics. With it being Alonso’s sixthRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief McLaren will get a much needed boost as Honda has introduced a major power unit upgrade for this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix. The intensely fast Spa-Franchorchamps circuit puts a premium demand on the power unit. With the summer break now over, Honda has brought the upgrade for both Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. The Japanese supplier put an emphasis on combustion efficiency with the internal combustion engine (ICE). The power unit will also see improvements to both the turbo and compressor, something Honda looks to continueRead More

Lewis Hamilton took a controlled German Grand Prix win to extend his championship lead over chief rival Nico Rosberg to 19 points as the German finished fourth behind the Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo and third-placed Max Verstappen. Hamilton’s victory was largely sealed at the start when, from second on the grid, he made a much better getaway than polesitter Rosberg. The champion leader hugged the inside line as Rosberg dropped back and emerged from Turn One in the lead. Behind him both third-on-the-grid Ricciardo and Verstappen, who started fourth,Read More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief After scoring points in his debut Formula 1 race in the Bahrain Grand Prix, it is time for the McLaren-Honda F1 Team to explore the option to run Stoffel Vandoorne for the 2016 season. Vandoorne, 24, substituted for Fernando Alonso after the two-time F1 champion was not medically cleared to race at the Sakhir International Circuit. Alonso was the focal point following a horrific crash that saw his McLaren MP4-31 collided with Haas F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez before flipping violently in the Australian Grand Prix. TheRead More