Honda-McLaren alliance and the challenge for 2015

A dominating alliance of the late 80′s and the early 90′s is all set to return to the Formula One arena come 2015. The McLaren-Honda alliance will see McLaren cars powered by Honda engines and energy recovery systems back in the paddock, reviving a famous association in Formula One history.

McLaren-Honda alliance was a dominant force in Formula One from 1988-92 with legends Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost at the helm of racing.

The previous association needless to say had four drivers’ championships, four constructors’ championships and 44 Grands Prix out of 80 in a five year period between 1988 and 1992. But even before the alliance gets up and running in an year from now there are challenges ahead of both the entities involved. Here’s a look at some of the challenges and what it would mean for their campaign going into 2015.

Not an easy comeback

Honda last participated in Formula One in 2008 after which the team decided to quit due to the global economic recession.

Honda last competed in Formula One as full fledged team in 2008 and had to pull out due to the global economic recession. The only successful year that the team had with the now discarded V8 engine was in the year 2006 that saw them finishing fourth in the Constructor’s championship with Jenson Button leading the way. Honda will have to learn from their mistakes of its earlier stints and the research and development team will have to work overtime to ensure they are ready to face the challenges.

But on a better footing, Honda have been the pioneers when it comes to turbocharged engines. The Japanese manufacturer had remarkable success in Formula One supplying V6 turbo charged engines to McLaren. It also remains a supplier to Indycar racing where it supplies V6 turbo charged engines.

Honda specializes in turbocharged engines and currently supply V6 chasis to IndyCar.

While Honda, based in Tochigi, Japan, would be happy to use their R&D and experience and feedback from Indycar, Formula One engines would have a higher torque and horsepower(estimated to be approx 750-800bhp with ERS) and hence need comprehensive testing and regular tweaking based on track temperature and conditions. Even though Honda would be doing their in-house testing and other tests, its rivals for 2015 would already have track experience and data from 2014 to help them get ready for the 2015 season. This is where Honda might feel the pinch. While McLaren would be sending some feedback to their old partners, the alliance would in all likelihood be a step behind their competition.

If you haven’t heard the Honda 1.6 ltr turbocharged engine, listen to it here.

McLaren hoping for a change of fortune

McLaren would be hoping the revival of a successful alliance with Honda will hold the in good stead for the 2015 season.

McLaren having finished a terrible year in 2013, despite being one of the fastest at the end of 2012, would be eagerly waiting to get back to the successful alliance and hoping they would be able to revive the winning chemistry in 2015. While the new regulations for 2014 remain a mystery for teams and drivers, Mcalren is expected to supply critical information to Honda to help them improve on the engine. How much of it can be supplied would obviously be restricted as per McLaren’s contract with Mercedes.

McLaren, would also be hoping their drivers are up for the job in 2015. With McLaren-Honda alliance confirmed, Jenson Button is expected to get an extended contract because of his previous association with the Japanese manufacturer(from 2003-5 at BAR-Honda and with Honda F1 racing from 2006-08). But new signing and rookie Kevin Magnussen’s performance in 2014 will decide whether he would be driving for the much awaited partnership.

While Honda and McLaren can bask in the glory of their previous association, both need to understand( believe they do) that the competition is much tougher and a host of regulations can make matters even more complicated. There’s hardly any room for complacency and a critical error can ruin the whole season(evident with McLaren in 2013).