Ecclestone: It’s McLaren’s fault for Honda failure

Formula 1 chairman emeritus Bernie Ecclestone has pointed the finger of blame at McLaren for its split from Honda after three years of unreliable and underpowered engines.

McLaren is expected to announce its divorce from Honda in Singapore as part of a ‘mega-deal’ which will see the Woking-based team secure Renault engines from 2018 with Honda switching supply to Toro Rosso.

The official confirmation of the deals is expected within the next 48 hours with the FIA lining up Friday’s Singapore GP team principal press conference with Renault boss Cyril Abiteboul speaking alongside McLaren CEO Zak Brown in part one, while Honda chief Yusuke Hasegawa is lined up next to Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost and Red Bull head Christian Horner in the second part of the press conference.

Reports emerging in the Daily Mail indicate the McLaren-Renault deal is tied up which will also see Fernando Alonso re-sign on a one-year deal, according to the sport’s chairman emeritus Ecclestone.

But Ecclestone blames McLaren for not cooperating with Honda as the key reason behind the partnership’s downfall while he is pleased to see the British squad keep Alonso in F1 for 2018.

“I can't see why McLaren will be any happier with Renault than they are with Honda,” Ecclestone told the Daily Mail. “It wasn't Honda's fault things didn't work out, it was McLaren's. Every day they had a fight about everything, instead of working with them, which was a little bit stupid.

“The Renault deal is all done. Alonso staying is super news.”

As part of the complicated deal orchestrated between several teams, Carlos Sainz is predicted to be loaned to Renault as part of a sweetener in the deal which will allow 2016 GP2 Series champion Pierre Gasly to graduate to Toro Rosso for 2018.