McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes Honda is now working the Formula 1 way as it looks to reduce the deficit in its power unit performance.
Following three years in which the team finished no higher than sixth in the constructors’ championship and failed to secure a single podium finish, McLaren split from power unit suppliers Honda at the end of 2017.
Honda will continue in F1 by supplying Toro Rosso this season. McLaren has instead turned to Renault, joining Red Bull in being a customer of the French marque.
“We’ve had a lot of challenges,” Brown said in an interview with Sky Sports. “Obviously the Honda situation was extremely difficult, but I think we have handled it well, like with where we are going in the future.”
Speculation surfaced during the relationship of McLaren and Honda enduring difficulties in dealing with their cultural differences, which hampered their ability to work together.
Honda was reportedly unwilling to seek the outside help that McLaren had suggested in order to fast-track their power unit development as it contravened with their philosophy.
“We just weren’t getting to where we needed to be quick enough,” Brown added when asked about the reasoning behind the split.
“They do have a certain way of working and Eric [Boullier] commented earlier in the year, ‘if you’re going to do Formula 1 you have to do it the Formula 1 way’ and I think they understand that now.
“I think they are taking the appropriate measures and I think they will get there, but we just had to go for a more proven product [in Renault].”
The on and off-track struggles were in stark contrast to the success enjoyed by McLaren-Honda in their previous partnership. The pair won four consecutive championships between 1988 and ’91.
The McLaren MP4/4, in particular, dominated the ’88 championship, claiming 15 wins from 16 races and guided McLaren to three times the number of points earned by constructors’ championship runners-up Ferrari.
Asked whether McLaren would consider rekindling ties with Honda for a third stint in the future, Brown stated, “Absolutely.
“They are a great company. We have won a few world championships with them. They know what they are doing.
“For a variety of reasons they just didn’t get it right this time but we have maintained a good relationship and so definitely never say never in this sport.”
