Honda 2016 F1 season (**contains race results**)

[RichardA]

Alonso finished in 10th and Button in 16th in the Brazilian GP:

http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/2016/brazilian-grand-prix/2016-Brazilian-grand-prix-race-report/

[RichardA]

In other news Ron Dennis is forced out as head of McLaren Technology Group:

https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2016/11/ron-dennis-steps-down-as-mclaren-boss-hits-out-at-entirely-spurious-reasons-for-boardroom-suspension/

[culzean]

If I was Ron I would sell my shares while they are still worth something.  F1 is on a downward spiral because it is the most boring thing to watch on TV at the moment and don't even have the aural pleasure of nice sounding engines anymore.......

http://www.speedhunters.com/2016/05/whats-wrong-formula-1/

I know McLaren are a technology company, but most of it is based in F1.

Financing an F1 team is next step up from throwing bundles of pound notes into a sinkhole.

If you want to watch racing and never know what the final result is going to be (unpredictable) and watch people with real skill I suggest you watch British Superbike (BSB) -  world superbike (WSB) and MotoGP racing at any opportunity - those riders are real superheroes (even the ones towards the back) and the racing is surprisingly close every time,  and not just down to pit-stop strategy (they don't make pit stops),  it is just flat out racing from when the red light go out until the last guy crosses the finish line.

A big plus is that Honda still do very well in Motorbike racing

[RichardA]

F1 is a big money pit and a couple of teams I believe have gone to the wall over the years. Newcomers Haas appear to be coping well, financially at least, but Gene Haas is well financed through his machine tool business and has experience in the NASCAR series.

The final race in the season in Abu Dhabi kicks off tomorrow and marks Jenson Button's final race in his f1 [driving] career before retiring to an ambassador role for Mclaren, although a seat maybe available in 2018 depending on what Alonso does next.

I understand Lewis Hamilton has to win and Nico Rosberg has to finish outside the top three in order for Hamilton to win the drivers' championship.

[VicW]

Jenson Buttons' future seems a little vague in that he says Abu Dhabi is his last F1 race yet he is contracted to McClaren for 2017 as their reserve driver and must remain race fit as well as his other duties as 'ambassador' and simulator driving.
I am sure that, although the team drivers use the simulators extensively, no one has had a driver of Buttons' recent experience to test new ideas on the simulator.
With a greatly modified engine for next year McClaren/Honda are looking for a considerable improvement. They will be hard pushed to match Mercedes and particularly Red Bull who are probably the best chassis designers of the lot. Next years cars will be noticeably different to this years cars but I don't think you will see the spectacle improve much.

Vic.

[RichardA]

Alonso finished in 10th and Button did not finish in the Abu Dhabi GP - a sad end to a wonderful driving career in F1, but he received a hero's welcome on return to the pits. I'm sure we all here wish him well in the future and would like to extend a big thank you for his contribution to Mclaren-Honda and F1 in general.

Hamilton won the Abu Dhabi GP but Rosberg followed in his father's footsteps to become world champion, while Mercedes Petronas once again clinched the constructors' title a few races back. Overall Alonso is ranked 10th in the championship on 54 points and Button in 15th on 21 points. Mclaren-Honda is ranked 6th in the constructors' championship on 76 points, some way behind Williams on 138 points.

http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/2016/abu-dhabi-grand-prix/

[guest1372]

So Nico Rosberg retires, it's hard to argue with the pull of a young family and a hefty bank balance - plus he never had the killer instinct of Lewis.  Cue the driver line-up speculation.

But I think the unsung heroes are Force India in 4th overall.  Three world champion teams ahead (Mercedes / Ferrari / Red Bull) and three more behind them.  On a performance/£ ratio they won by a mile.
--
TG

[Dayjo]

After his championship achievement, this year. I don't blame him!

Good luck to him.......

[culzean]

But I think the unsung heroes are Force India in 4th overall.  Three world champion teams ahead (Mercedes / Ferrari / Red Bull) and three more behind them.  On a performance/£ ratio they won by a mile.

Force India appear to be getting same level of Mercedes engines as other teams,  Mercedes engines made in Northampton LOL

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/122882

http://www.mercedes-amg-hpp.com/v/about_us/who_we_are/