RonDennis wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 22:37
Ground Effect wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 21:37
RonDennis wrote: ↑14 Jul 2019, 20:19
It's your interpretation. Mercedes said that they couldn't supply a fourth team, which meant that Renault was their only option. The article you linked even states that Renault is "open to their suggestion", not that they will have any influence on the design based on the contract.
https://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/2188 ... es-mclaren
I think you’re not starting from the beginning. McLaren started making moves to ditch Honda during Barcelona pre season tests of 2017. They were trying to see if they would get the Mercedes deal, then change engines a couple of months into the season, the rules allow it, by the way. Supply would not have been an issue because Mercedes had already made provisions for Manor, who had hoped to be on the grid, up until early 2017 they were trying to be rescued. But they stuck with Honda and the question of a 4th team arose for 2018 when McLaren were looking for the 2018 switch.
James Allen had reported that Mansour Ojjeh was relying on the good relationship he had over the years with the Mercedes boss to secure the Manor allocation for 2017, but the works status request made it a non starter. Of course that was not the official reason given, as you can imagine. There were articles on it, like below
https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/39290908
You're constantly talking about a works status, but you haven't shown one source for that story. There are no differences between the engines and modes these days, so what would be the advantage of that so called "works status".
I thought I mentioned James Allen? This was mentioned by him on his F1 blog in a comment section as a response to a poster. I’m sorry I can’t provide the actual link, as it wasn’t an article in itself, but a response on a comment from an article regarding pre season testing and the problems McLaren Honda were facing in 2017. There was no “McLaren asks Mercedes for works status” article. But he definitely made that statement. Whatever logic or details of McLaren wanting works status or a works level deal I don’t know, but like I said, it was in 2017 and has no bearing on EJ’s latest comment and back then in 2017 the FIA hadn’t closed up all loopholes and insisted on 100% parity in fuel, lubricants and engine modes. Maybe the updated engine rules leaves their request and line of thinking redundant. Maybe their request also included input in design and layout, I don’t know either. But I can assure you, my remarks on works status aren’t a work of fiction, it was 100% on Allen’s blog. I’m sure you know, James Allen moderates the F1 drivers and team principals press conference and is a respected journalist, I believe he won’t make a statement without verifying.
Q: (Stefano Mancini – La Stampa) Kimi, will you help Vettel to win his championship this year?
Kimi Raikkonen: I can only drive one car, obviously.
@2018 Singapore Grand Prix drivers press conference.
