Formula One: The Sainz/McLaren/Toro Rosso/Renault deal – Who could this benefit in 2018?

Cue Renault

Cue in Renault. Since the team could not supply any more than three teams, it seemed like the deal with McLaren was impossible. However, Alonso is still one of the most popular drivers in the sport, and even at 36, still has enough time for what he wants most: a third world title. Toro Rosso could easily have shunned this deal for history, but for some reason, this didn’t happen. Toro Rosso was getting complaints from Sainz that he wanted to go to another team.

But since Toro Rosso is linked to Red Bull, it would be impossible to achieve this. But Red Bull, who have had almost enough of the Renault engines despite winning six races since 2014, felt that if the Honda power could help Toro Rosso in 2018, then the senior team could obtain the same engines the following year.

It just so happened that when the deal was being negotiated with McLaren that Renault announced that they would not be supplying engines to Red Bull and Toro Rosso after 2018. This was a real indication that with the Renault deal becoming free soon that the French unit could supply McLaren soon enough. But this was for 2019, not next season. And to keep Alonso from leaving soon, something had to be done.

Now for the loser in this deal: Jolyon Palmer. Since the Briton was not doing well for the Renault team this season, he could be replaced by someone else. Back to Sainz. Since the Spaniard was itching to leave and Palmer’s spot was open, Sainz could go there, but only as a loan for one season since Red Bull could use him in the future if either Max Verstappen or Daniel Ricciardo  leave the team. Now with Sainz out to Renault and McLaren desperately wanting to hang onto Alonso, someone had to take the bait.