McLaren and Honda allegedly set for F1 reunion as initial talks have begun

McLaren and Honda, who parted ways after 2017 following three disappointing seasons, have apparently made initial contact over a engine partnership.

McLaren and Honda allegedly set for F1 reunion as initial talks have begun

Ayrton Senna in the McLaren-Honda MP4/4, widely considered one of the greatest F1 cars of all time

McLaren currently use Mercedes engines. For the most part, except for a few years in between in the 2010s, they’ve used Mercedes power since 1995. In this period, they won one constructors’ championship (in 1998), and two drivers’ championships (in 1999 and 2007), both of them with Mercedes engines. But the most successful period in their history overall came in 1998-1991, when they won four world championships consecutively – all of them with Honda power.

However, the last time that the two parties collaborated – it didn’t work out for them. From 2015 to 2017 (which Zak Brown called the team’s ‘worst year in history’), when they used Honda engines, McLaren finished P9, P6, and P9, respectively. The next year, they switched to Renault engines and went to P6, then P4 and P3. Honda then joined up with Red Bull in 2019, who first finished P3, then P2 in the Constructors’ twice. But importantly, Max Verstappen won the Drivers’ championship in 2021.

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While now Red Bull technically utilize ‘RBPT engines’ – they’re just badged like that, and it’s still Honda. So they’ve now won the Constuctors’ championship with a Honda engine, alongside two Drivers’ championships. This collaboration will end in 2026 when Red Bull will switch to Ford-badged engines, developed by ‘Red Bull Powertrains’ with input from Ford. Honda also seemed to be on the exit door from Formula 1, but they have, in fact, registered as an engine supplier for 2026.

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McLaren-Honda discussions are still in the early stages

Alain Prost in the McLaren-Honda MP4/4
Alain Prost in the McLaren-Honda MP4/4

Now, according to information from The Race, a return to Honda power may be on the cards for McLaren. This could be because while Honda have officially left F1 in order to pursue carbon-neutral technology, the 2026 engines are more compatible with that philosophy. That is because the new engines will use 100% sustainable fuel, and more electrical components than ever before. By 2030, the sport aims to be ‘net zero’ carbon neutral.

However, any potential discussions over a potential McLaren-Honda collaboration are ‘believed’ to be in their nascent stages. Williams, who currently also use Mercedes power, are also said to be an option. Back in 1986 and 1987, they won two world championships using Honda power. They switched to Judd engines the next year. Since 2014, they’ve used Mercedes engines.

But Honda is also among a host of options – the report states that Zak Brown is ‘understood’ to have visited the Red Bull Powertrains facility. Audi, who are currently in the process of building an engine are another option. They will ‘takeover’ Sauber in 2026. The Swiss outfit’s current chief executive is Andreas Seidl, who previously served as McLaren’s team principal – there’s a link there. It’s also possible that they will decide to continue with Mercedes. It’ll be interesting to see how this develops.

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