Honda engine supplier choice?

Question

Why did they choose Mclaren over Ferari? Could this mean that they think or know Mclaren engines and Kers systems will be perform better than Ferrari or am i reading too much into it?

Answer 1

It's an interesting question! Maybe Norbert Haug was more willing to wait than Luca di Montezemolo. Or perhaps there's also a price difference? Sutil said he didn't feel that much difference between the Ferrari and Mercedes engines. Ferrari does complain about KERS though, which is not a good sign I guess.



EDIT: I don't think reliability is that big of an issue if you look at Toro Rosso last year, they seemed to have less problems with the engine than Ferrari themselves.

Answer 2

I think Ross Brawn approached his old paymasters at Ferrari, and I think they turned him away based on perhaps the timescales and payments needed... Also they might be cutting back in their engine department to concentrate on KERS, and supplying 3 teams like they did last year wasn't on the cards.



Mercedes have been fantastic in all of this, in publicly offering their services. Of course payments are needed, but Norbert Haug has been very gracious in helping out his fellow teams, clearly as he wants to see a full grid this year. It's even more gracious when you consider that Mercedes are supplying two teams for the first time in their F1 career, now it's three!!



Regarding the KERS systems, I was under the impression that Honda were developing their own system at Brackley, and whether this has been fitted to the Mercedes engine I don't know. I don't think KERS is in the engine deal. So maybe Brawn are going to race without it for a year before getting another deal or racing their own.



I assume though that on the engine front it's maybe a one-year deal, and Brawn should be looking at a long-term option on the Customer Cosworth engine that is due to become available in 2010. I think that this would be USGPE's (as they're now known) initial option too.

Answer 3

I think Ferrari withdrew their offer back in January time, mcLaren was probably the only real choice available.

Rules had to be altered to allow Mercedes to supply 3 teams which was previously not allowed. Yes Ferrari did Ferrari, Torro Rosso and F.I last year but the Ferrari team engines were classed as their own, as they are all built in house not through a 3rd party as McLaren (Mercedes) are.

Answer 4

When you look at the state of the Ferrari engine reliability last year though, you can understand why they didn't go with them.

They are trying to lure in sponsors, so reliability is essential.



Also, I don't think that there is much, if any, difference between the engines nowadays.

And, are they getting just the engine, or a gearbox deal as well, like Force India?

Answer 5

it all depends who had the best deal to offer. sure Ferrari engines are probably better and have less reliability issues but would they have wanted a honda to hold up a mclaren? POSSIBLY!!!

Answer 6

Mercedes offered them a job lot cheap.



Could be that Ferrari are notoriously difficult to deal with. Anyway they might get accusations of spying.

Answer 7

You may well be right. With Ross Brawn's Ferrari connection you would have thought that that would have been the route they would have taken. A bit baffling really.

Answer 8

Dude ..the only reason why they choosed Mc laren over ferrari is "Reliability".. Ferrari had more engine problems in last 2 years where as Mc laren had very few...

Answer 9

Its all a fix.



Sad but true, no one can deny it.