This Month, Joe Explores The Subject Of Divorce - Formula 1 Style

Honda and McLaren are moving inexorably towards a divorce.

- Joe Saward

Will it be a messy one? No-one wants to see that happen, but that means that both sides are going to have to accept things they might not want to accept. McLaren will, no doubt, have to accept that they say nothing negative about Honda engines. Honda will have to accept that everyone is the sport is going to say that Honda couldn’t do the job.

The only way to stop that talk is to do the job properly. And one has to wonder, if that was possible why hasn’t Honda already done it. Honda does have a parachute deal with Sauber, which will mean that it will not be forced to leave the sport and can then work quietly – out of the public eye – with the Swiss team. No-one is going to pay much attention to the team at the back, and, if the engines start to work better, then Honda will get the credit for moving Sauber forwards. It’s a win-win for all concerned under in the circumstances.