The honda/ Mclaren disaster

Honda was not just late to the hybrid party, but its drivetrain was severely down on power. It’s not clear whether Honda underestimated the enormous step-change in complexity with the new hybrid formula, or failed to realise the implications of crippling restrictions on F1 testing (unlike its previous venture when Honda and Mclaren were free to test relentlessly at Suzuka until any problems were put right) but the net result was a woeful performance as, among other things, Honda failed to master the MGU-H (the electricity generator running off the turbo).

Mclaren found itself near the bottom of the points table while also coping with the increasingly disaffected Alonso. It seemed there was no way Honda could possibly close down the massive development shortfall to Renault, never mind Mercedes and Ferrari. In order to sugar the pill being swallowed with increasing difficulty by Alonso, Mclaren claimed its chassis was one of the most efficient and was being let down by the Japanese power unit. A parting of the ways was announced for 2018, with Mclaren signing a customer deal with Renault. The new season was to show Mclaren’s declaration of chassis and aero integrity to be as fanciful as it was embarrassing, the Mclaren-renault desperately slow everywhere.