there will be a powertrain rules change in a few years and the scuttlebutt is V6 turbos w/o any hybrid BS in order to simplify and bring back the sounds we love.

Honda has yet to get it's arms around the current set up and probably wont ,BUT whoever is connected to them for a clean slate V6 turbo design could be a big winner

 

F1 rules are stupid, the racing is usually nonexistent due to a broken formula that they don't seem to understand how to fix. Hint, smaller front wing with fewer elements + limited underbody venturis. Stepped flat-bottom and super-wide gazillion element front wings = no passing And most tracks are garbage. Next year's cars are gonna be uglier than ever with the halos while the new IndyCar is gorgeous. I really loved F1 when it was NA V8 vs. V10 vs. V12 with all three configurations capable of winning races. These V6 turbos sound like CRAP... F1 is painful to watch these days...

 

So you haven't enjoyed F1 in 25 years? Cool.

 

Done & dusted - McLaren Honda no more

McLaren-Honda split after three years of troubled partnership - BBC Sport

I hope Fernando is worth the trouble.

 

Alonso has really only ever been vocal (negatively) whilst driving, which I would say is from pure frustration, when he does interviews he's much more positive. I think too much emphasis is being put on the radio messages we hear, rather than the ones we don't, F1 has essentially created the fans annoyance with the Honda/McLaren alliance.

I've never been much of an Alonso fan, but his recent time with McLaren has made me warm to him a little.

I'm not shocked by them splitting, I think it was inevitable honestly. I am curious to see what the McLaren chassis does with a different motor in it, and if all the blame actually lies with Honda.

 

I like your perspective Sam.

I warmed up to Alonso as well because he came to McLaren.

While we don’t know the inner goings on and while Alonso has been more cheerful in the interviews, what he said in the heat of the moment was quite upsetting to me as a Honda fan.

I always thought there’d be great synergies realized from the partnership, not just in F1, but also flowing through to the roadcars. Alas that chance is gone.

I hoped the pairing would also propel JB to another strong performance if not championship, but it seems like he is done with F1. I respect his decision as it gives the youngsters a chance.

Im still not sure if there will be an in-depth post mortem on the collapse following a potential improvement in performance for McLaren.

The way I see it, Renault is only marginally superior to the Honda engine. McLaren may very well have to modify their car design to accommodate the Renault engine unlike the partnership with Honda, where the latter had to make the engine fit within the McLaren design.

Next season will be interesting. Im hoping STR Honda punches above its weight and also hope McLaren isn’t too shabby after the switch.

 

I can't blame him (or really any other driver) for what they say during the race, heck, the race in Singapore there were lots of "shut up" radio messages broadcast over the TV. I'd guess there's a lot of radio messages in the same tone/manner, but F1 chooses which ones we hear. I'd say it's much like when we're driving around and someone does something stupid and you lash out (not in a road rage kind of way) and say something rash, F1 drivers are (mostly) human too.

Next year will definitely be interesting. Oh, and I am annoyed by the Honda/McLaren split, I bought one of their polos a few weeks back and feel a bit cheated out of $95.

 

OUCH.

Got to buy McHonda gear at the end of the season on closeout. I've got three t-shirts & a coffee table book for probably $100 total.

 

Same thing happened years ago when I bought some stuff from BAR F1.

Hmm. So, both times I've bought team apparel, the teams fall apart. Any requests for me to buy another teams merchandise?

 

FERRARI.