by H. Mayor – photo: f1.com | A new change of course in the efforts for McLaren and Honda to continue their F1 partnership into 2018. The bursting into scene of Ilmor as Honda’s aide in their development process will have an enormous influence within a complex partnership full of doubts and upheavals. This is possibly the dramatic move that everyone was waiting for at Honda.

The news is not official yet. The online portal Autosport.com unveiled the signing of the prestigious engineering company Ilmor in the development works of the future power unit of the Japanese manufacturer. The news of this collaboration, which is said will be “intensive in every way”, has generated new and positive expectations for the future. “We are working very hard to get further improvements to become more competitive (…) Although we do not deny the possibility of working with outsources, we do not disclose the details,” said a Honda spokesman.

The coming into play of Ilmor (Mario Illien, one of the big F1 engine gurus) completely changes the outlook and increases McLaren’s doubts as to the continuity of their partnership with Honda after the disaster of the current season. In any case they are running out of alternatives at Woking: Renault is their only plausible option remaining and even then, negotiations wouldn’t be easy.

Secrecy

At Honda they are keeping a tight lid on their development work while at the same time speaking of great advances to be made for next year. Nothing has been said regarding how they are going to persuade McLaren to remain by their side into 2018 nor about the need to undergo a deep brand makeover after the current season, when their engines have hardly finished any race, let alone be competitive.

So far it seems no great improvements will be made for the remaining of 2017 besides the little changes and adjustments that Honda introduces after virtually every race. At McLaren, on top of their engine issues they are dealing with the future of their human team. They have just announced Vandoorne will remain in the team for next year. The challenge now remains to convince the twice-champion Fernando Alonso to stay with the scuderia even though for the time being they can only offer him uncertainty and promises of a brighter future.