McLaren confirms Honda divorce at end of 2017

McLaren has formally confirmed it will split with Formula 1 engine partner Honda at the end of the season after three years.

After weeks of speculation and ongoing frustration with Honda’s lack of performance, McLaren finalised a deal to split with the Japanese marque, and is poised to switch a Renault engine supply for 2018.

McLaren is set to swap engine supplies with Toro Rosso for 2018, with the Red Bull B-team taking on Honda power units and being its sole customer outfit next year.

"McLaren Technology Group and Honda Motor Co. Ltd announce they will discontinue their partnership for the FIA Formula One World Championship (F1) at the end of 2017 by mutual consent," a statement from McLaren reads.

"The McLaren Honda Formula 1 team will continue to compete for the remainder of the 2017 FIA Formula One Constructors’ and Drivers’ World Championships. 

"Both Honda and McLaren will confirm their future plans in the sport in the near future."

McLaren ended a two-decade long relationship with Mercedes in order to link up with Honda in 2015, rekindling the famed partnership of the late 1980s and early 1990s that dominated F1.

However, there would be no repeat of the success attained before, with Honda’s struggles in making up ground to rivals Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault leaving McLaren scrambling down the order.

Progress was notable through 2016 as McLaren rose from ninth to sixth in the constructors’ championship, only for Honda’s decision to redesign the layout of its power unit to cause another dip in performance for 2017.

Despite numerous promises of improved performance and work with engineering consultants Ilmor to try and climb back up the pecking order, Honda was unable to save its relationship with McLaren, but will remain in the sport via Toro Rosso next year.

The deal is also set to lead to Carlos Sainz Jr. joining Renault’s works team in F1 next year, being used as a makeweight to bring the Toro Rosso deal to an early end.

It also ensures that Renault will still supply just three teams next year, the French manufacturer having refused to expand to four teams and maintain its Toro Rosso relationship as well as linking up with McLaren.