zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Racing
/
Honda To Ruin Sauber Like It Ruined McLaren
Honda To Ruin Sauber Like It Ruined McLaren-November 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:11:23

Honda, a provider of current-spec Formula One power units so bad, that they made once-respectable McLaren a painful spectacle of technical woes, has now signed up to ruin Sauber in the same way starting in 2018, reports . Run away while you still can, Sauber. It’s a trap!

In case you’ve been ignoring the 2017 Formula One season, McLaren driver Fernando Alonso hasn’t finished a single race with Honda’s turd of a power unit in four races. Teammate Stoffel Vandoorne has only finished twice—in 13th and 14th place. The team as a whole is dead last in the constructors’ championship.

McLaren used to be known for winning world championships, but their rekindled partnership with Honda reminds us all more of the sinking of the Titanic more than it does the halcyon years when Ayrton Senna was dominating in a McLaren-Honda.

At least backmarker Sauber doesn’t have as far to fall, having been known more in recent years for than any actual race wins. They’re currently in ninth places in the F1 world constructors’ championship, beating only the ne’er-do-wells at McLaren.

Sauber is constantly hurting for cash and a lucrative Honda deal for a current-year-spec engine is—in theory—an upgrade. Their current deal with Ferrari for power units only lets them use last year’s power unit spec, which isn’t competitive at all. That deal will run out in 2018, which is when Honda will take over. We’ll see if this “upgrade” works out in practice. (All signs point to “no.”)

Honda also gains a second team to gather data from by providing power units to Sauber. Their hope is that two additional cars’ worth of data points will allow them to sort out problems faster, according to Racer. I mean, they can’t be any slower at it than they are now, so why not?

I’m sorry, Sauber fans. I really am. Upside: maybe Pascal Wehrlein can take a week off to run Baja or something when it all hits the fan.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Racing
I Refuse to Die Until I Cold Start an Old Race Car Engine
I Refuse to Die Until I Cold Start an Old Race Car Engine
There are very few cars that terrify me more than old race cars. These things are bulky, unsafe, and all kinds of rudimentary—I genuinely don’t know how anyone ever looked at them and said “yeah, I’d race that.” But folks, I’ve found my very specific niche. I just want to...
Nov 10, 2025
Here's Your Quick and Dirty 2019 Dakar Rally Winners Round Up
Here's Your Quick and Dirty 2019 Dakar Rally Winners Round Up
The is over with Toyota beating Red Bull (finally), the big Russian trucks beating everybody (as usual), Toby Price doing Australia proud and some surprises from the small contingent of Americans in the race. In the car category, Dakar Rally regular Nasser Al-Attiyah and co-driver Mathieu Baumel took first place...
Nov 10, 2025
This Car Is S O L O U D
This Car Is S O L O U D
Yesterday I put up a story detailing some of the . Kiwi Marcus van Klink offers a practical solution: replace the two-rotor dud with the legendary three-rotor 20B, and engine that is LOUDER THAN THE SUN IS HOT. Do you see this? It is a verdant valley, rolling foothills crisscrossed...
Nov 10, 2025
F1 Is About to Get So Much Slower
F1 Is About to Get So Much Slower
What would you rather have: fast cars or more overtaking? The Powers That Be in Formula One opted to implement some front and rear wing changes in 2019 with the hopes that everyone could have their cake and eat it, too. But as teams hit air tunnels and simulators with...
Nov 10, 2025
Denise Mueller-Korenek Hits 184 MPH on a Bicycle and Sets New Land Speed Record
Denise Mueller-Korenek Hits 184 MPH on a Bicycle and Sets New Land Speed Record
In September 2018, Denise Mueller-Korenek climbed onto her bicycle with one purpose in mind: to set the world land speed record. It’s a dangerous business, trying to crush a record like that. Many have tried, and almost as many have failed in the pursuit of glory. But Mueller-Korenek did the...
Nov 10, 2025
Honda Again Sets Goal to Become Only Second-Worst Engine Supplier in F1
Honda Again Sets Goal to Become Only Second-Worst Engine Supplier in F1
Goals are inherently aspirational. Kids want to go to the Olympics. Everyone wants to be the best, despite knowing only a select few ever are. Goals in , however, are completely within logical confines, even if it makes them sound the opposite of impressive. Just look at Honda, which wants...
Nov 10, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved