It is also uncertain whether Sauber will extend its long-term Ferrari deal or pursue an alternative for next year.
Honda's only F1 link is now with McLaren, though it remains unclear whether the Woking-based outfit will stick with Honda power in 2018. We would like to thank Honda for their collaboration, and wish them all the best for their future in Formula One." "However, this decision has been made for strategic reasons, and with the best intent for the future of the Sauber F1 Team in mind. Incoming team principal Frederic Vasseur - who begins his role at Sauber at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix - said: "It is very unfortunate that we have to discontinue the planned collaboration with Honda at this stage. We would like to thank Sauber for their cooperation, and wish them all the best for their future." "However, during discussions after management changes at the team, we reached a mutual agreement to call-off the project due to differences in the future directions of both parties. "We had built a good relationship with Sauber, and had been looking forward to entering the 2018 F1 season together," Honda motorsport general manager Masashi Yamamoto said. The team is ahead of only Honda-powered McLaren in the constructors' championship by a margin of three points. Sauber has run one-year-old Ferrari power units in its cars this season but has struggled. Honda and Sauber have agreed to pull the plug on their deal for the Japanese manufacturer to supply the Swiss team with Formula One engines in 2018.Ī deal had been confirmed during the Russian Grand Prix weekend for Sauber to take on Honda engines, with ex-team principal Monisha Kaltenborn the key architect behind the agreement.įollowing Kaltenborn's departure from Sauber ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in June, speculation intensified that the deal could be called off, with Honda engine boss Yusuke Hasegawa wanting an answer from the team "as soon as possible".
#HONDA F1 2018 UPGRADE#
"As a group, we will now take the time afforded to us to further evaluate and find the most competitive power unit solution for 2022 and beyond.You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
"We look forward to embarking on a new era of innovation, development and success," said Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who said he understood and respected Honda's decision. Red Bull – on behalf of both their works team and AlphaTauri – have recently committed to the new Concorde Agreement, which binds them to the championship until the end of 2025. Under the current rules, Renault would be obliged to supply Red Bull and AlphaTauri with engines as they currently have the fewest customers, unless the teams can convince Mercedes or Ferrari to provide a supply. The decision will leave Formula 1 with three power unit suppliers – Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault. "Honda will work together with Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri to continue competing with its utmost effort and strive for more victories all the way to the end of the 2021 season," the Japanese company added in a statement.
Honda said the decision had been made because the automobile industry was going through a "once-in-one-hundred-years period of great transformation" and that they'll leave having been "able to attain its goal of earning victories".