(Dailymail.co.uk)
McLaren and Honda are set to join forces next season when the Japanese car giant returns to Formula One as the Woking based outfit's new engine supplier. The company have signed a long term agreement with McLaren set to be the only Honda powered team in 2015. At the time of the announcement Honda stated that they had no intention to buy into the team. However, that stance would appeared to have changed.
Reports emerged from Japan on Tuesday that Honda are in fact interested in buying into the McLaren team. Any team buy in would have to first be cleared by the three current owners of the McLaren Group, Chairman, Ron Dennis, Mansour Ojjeh and the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company which is under the ownership of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
If Honda are interested in buying into the team it would be a long term objective for the Japanese manufacturer as their main aim right now is to concentrate on their preparation for their return to Formula One next season. This will start in a matter of weeks when they move into their new purpose built engine facility in Milton Keynes in a matter of weeks.
The facility in Milton Keynes is not a production plant but a preparation facility where the new Honda power unit's will be prepared and sent to McLaren's Technology Centre.
Honda will also provide McLaren with a travelling team of engineers who will assist the team next season. It is possible that McLaren could test the new Honda power unit at the conclusion of the current season. However this has yet to be confirmed and indeed any such test would have to be approved by the FIA and the teams.
©Ben Johnston 2014
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