PhillipM wrote:I'm not attributing it to one component, I'm keeping the relevance to the discussion at hand, they have the best power unit on the grid, still.
Mclaren had the customer version of that power unit. They weren't happy with it.
Ergo, the only way up from there is to beat Merc at their own game. Which when, as you point out, they've had so much time and tests to develop it, means that you need to take risks to try to leapfrog them. Otherwise there was absolutely no point in Honda coming into the sport. It IS all or nothing.
As far as i remember, it wasnt that
they werent happy with it - but Ron believed that in this new era of Formula 1 that no customer team would ever win and that an exclusive engine partnership was the way forward. The Honda partnership was forming way before that Mercedes PU ever got put into that McLaren.
I think the reasons for McLaren wanting to go with Honda are way more complex here. The reasons probably go back to 2010 when Mercedes entered as their own factory team and on a year to year basis, started to increase and become more competitive. More over, the resources Mercedes put into their team were massive. They also started luring technical staff from other teams too.
Again, i'm not suggesting that the Honda partnership was a failure. I'm arguing that the gambling all or nothing is worthless if you keep on falling short. At this rate, evidently, both Ferrari and Renault are in a better position to compete with Mercedes with more conservative approaches that have enabled them to reliably better their engines while crucially also giving the chassis team a steady predictable component to work with. Meanwhile, McLaren has been playing catch up as backmarkers (2015) and the midfield (2016) which is decreasing their image. They are losing sponsorship and therefore money. More over, the partnership behind the curtains is also becoming more explosive as they probably question the competence and ability of their engine partner. Their star driver isnt happy, the stakes rising.
You tell me, what will happen if this year turns out like 2016 again? Or worse, like 2015?
Meanwhile, while you are pointing out how Mercedes gambled all or nothing, dont forget how methodical this team was increasing in strength before 2014. The PU is a huge component, but not the only one. It took a damn good chassis, aero and also suspension to tick all the boxes. They studied the tires to perfection. It didnt happen all in a day or a year, which is the point i am making here. Ergo, it wasnt ever all or nothing. It was carefully planed and executed over multiple years, starting in 2010.
