Former F1 team owner claims McLaren’s call to leave Honda was the ‘worst decision’ by the team

Eddie Jordan reckoned that McLaren had made a stupid decision to end its ties with Honda at the end of 2017.

Former F1 team owner claims McLaren’s call to leave Honda was the ‘worst decision’ by the team

Oscar Piastri, Andrea Stella and Lando Norris (Via IMAGO)

McLaren is one of the most successful teams in F1 history. The Woking-based team started out from humble beginnings under Bruce McLaren. However, the British team has managed to win multiple titles during its long tenure in the sport. Although, McLaren had a disastrous stint with Honda during the turbo hybrid era. Now, former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has called out the British squad for this call.

Jordan reckoned that McLaren made an irrational decision to end its partnership with Honda at the end of 2017. The Woking-based team spent a few seasons with Renault power units before reuniting with Mercedes in 2021. While Zak Brown‘s squad lost its work status after leaving the Japanese carmaker, Red Bull’s two teams have achieved incredible success with the auto giant.

Subsequently, Eddie Jordan mentioned that it was not a smart call to leave Honda as its power unit supplier. So much so, that the Irishman claimed that it was the worst decision made by the Woking-based team in recent times. However, Jordan admitted that McLaren has bounced back and drastically improved its results in the last couple of seasons.

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I think whoever made a decision to leave Honda was an absolute fool’s paradise. It was the worst decision they could have made – but they’ve come back from it. So full credit.

Eddie Jordan said on the Formula for Success podcast (H&T: PlanetF1)

Eddie Jordan claims Oscar Piastri has shown that the McLaren car is drivable

Daniel Ricciardo spent a disastrous two seasons at Woking alongside teammate Lando Norris. The 8-time race winner struggled to get the most out of the car throughout his tenure with the British squad. Subsequently, Ricciardo and McLaren decided to part ways at the end of 2023, with the Australian receiving a hefty sum to vacate his seat a year earlier than his contract.

Oscar Piastri, F1 Sprint Belgian GP (image via PlanetF1)
Oscar Piastri, F1 Sprint Belgian GP (image via PlanetF1)

Eddie Jordan believes that Oscar Piastri has proved that McLaren’s machinery is fine to drive. The former team owner pointed out that Piastri has achieved some decent results despite being in his rookie season. The 22-year-old even won the F1 Sprint at the Qatar GP. As such, Jordan praised the efforts of the British team.

I think what Oscar [Piasteri] has done in that team, he’s shown that the car must be really OK to drive, because he’s a rookie coming in.

McLaren has risen to become perhaps the only challenge to Red Bull this season. Lando Norris has scored the second-most points since the Woking-based team introduced major upgrades earlier this year. The British squad now aims to potentially catch up with the reigning world champions and fight for victory in 2024.

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