Otay, just
couldn't resist that title, even if McLaren's simply going "solo," for the moment
anyways, on the engine front. As surely Honda will seek a second engine partner to accelerate its learning curve
eventually...
 |
McLaren's new MP4-30 seems to favour Mercedes-like
livery during its first winter test at
Jerez. (Image source: adamcooperf1.com)
|
McLaren Honda
Chassis: MP4-30
Engine: Honda
2014 Constructor Ranking: 5th; 181-points
Debut Race: 1966 Monaco GP
Drivers
(Car#/Name)
14) Fernando Alonso
22) Jenson button
History
The team began under founder Bruce McLaren's tutelage, before
finally floundering, albeit nearly a decade after his death, when Ron Dennis
and his vaunted Project 4 F2 Operation under title sponsor Marlboro's urging assimilated
the team into McLaren International in 1980.
After scoring the team's first "Hat
Trick" of world championships with the highly successful TAG/Porsche V-6
turbo from 1984-86, Dennis and McLaren further padded their respective trophy
cabinets during the first Honda era, circa' 1988-92 by winning four consecutive
titles, i.e.; 1988-91 before Honda left Formula 1 for the second time, to date.
McLaren rebounded by securing another three
championships with "Mika-the-Finn," (Hakkinen) 1998-99 and Lewis
Hamilton in 2008, all with Mercedes 'lumps, the Woking based squad's last (championship)
triumph to date, with the team's last Grand Prix victory being scored by Jenson
Button in 2012 at the season finale's Brazilian GP at Sao Paolo.
As McLaren, in all of its guises is the
second longest running F1 Constructor, surpassed only by la Scuderia, nee
Ferrari...
Notes
Obviously this year' will be very daunting
for McLaren, and especially Honda, who's returning as an engine supplier to McLaren for the first time since '92,
along with making its initial foray into the "mighty" Hybrid PU
(Power Unit) era. As the Japanese giant is depending upon a much more mature
"Fredrico Suave" (Fernando Alonso) and his elder team-mate 'JENSE
(Button) to take them to the promised land, whilst thee 'Ronster (Ron Dennis)
simply hopes that Alonso won't cause major disharmony or put another
significant dent in his pocketbook a la
2007's "Spy Gate," when Dennis had to shill out a whopping $100m to
the FIA!
Meanwhile, Jenson Button, who moved into the
number three for all-time Grand Prix starts last season, by surpassing Ricardo
Patrese's 256-starts, says Formula 1 still gets him "Jazzed."
And don't be too surprised if McLaren changes its
Spot's; Err colours this season to reflect their new Honda partnership, perhaps
to distract Y'all from the unrelenting pressures of trying to get the new Honda
PU up to speed, literally!
To
continue reading, see; F1: Mercedes likely toDominate 2015 F1 Season once again with Williams nipping at their Heels...