Formula One: McLaren picked a good time to switch to Renault engines
By Asher Fair
Given their history in particular Formula One seasons, 2018 could be a great season for McLaren’s switch to Renault engines.
In each of the last three Formula One seasons, McLaren have used Honda engines. In that time, they have struggled mightily, and that time has really been nothing short of a disaster. In fact, in their three seasons of using Honda engines, none of the team’s drivers have finished higher than 5th place in a single race.
Three years ago in 2015, their two drivers finished in 16th and 17th place in the drivers standings and the team finished in 9th in the constructors standings. They did have a better 2016 season, as their two drivers finished in 10th and 15th in the drivers standings and the team finished in 6th in the constructors standings. Still, however, the season was a major disappointment.
Most recently in 2017, they took a step back, as their two drivers finished in 15th and 16th place in the drivers standings and the team finished in 9th in the constructors standings in yet another season that was plagued by constant issues.
In the 2018 season, McLaren are set to use Renault engines as opposed to Honda engines, as Scuderia Toro Rosso are set to make the switch from Renault engines to Honda engines, thus allowing McLaren to be the third and final Renault-powered team in addition to Renault Sport and Aston Martin Red Bull Racing.
Recent Renault engine data has McLaren feeling confident in preparation for the 2018 season. Given the fact that the lack of power and reliability in the Honda engines have been the two key factors that have prevented them from having recent success and they really haven’t struggled all that much aerodynamically, this makes sense.
What bodes even better for the team is the fact that this season, 2018, is the season in which they are making the upgrade from Honda engines to Renault engines.
Why?
In every season ending in 8 after 1978, McLaren have either won the constructors championship, had one of their drivers win the drivers championship, or both.
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In the 1988 season, McLaren won the constructors championship with Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna as their two drivers. Senna won the drivers championship while Prost finished in 2nd place in the drivers standings.
In the 1998 season, McLaren won the constructors championship with David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen as their two drivers. Hakkinen won the drivers championship while Coulthard finished in 3rd place in the drivers standings.
In the 2008 season, the team did not win the constructors championship with Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen as their two drivers, but they finished in 2nd place in the final constructors standings. However, Hamilton did win the drivers championship while Kovalainen finished in 7th place in the drivers standings
What does the 2018 season have in store for McLaren and their two drivers, 36-year-old Fernando Alonso, a two-time Formula One champion, and 25-year-old Stoffel Vandoorne?
Next: Top 10 Formula One drivers of all-time
Will the McLaren Formula One team’s drivers exceed expectations in the 2018 season to put themselves in a position to potentially win the drivers championship and to put the team in a position to potentially win the constructors championship? Follow the 21-race season from start to finish to find out. It is set to begin on Sunday, March 25th with the Australian Grand Prix.