McLaren decision day looms, Red Bull-Honda in 2019?

As the Formula 1 paddock prepares for the ‘mega-deal’ announcements in Singapore, it appears the 2018 engine agreements could have a knock-on effect at Red Bull for 2019.

McLaren’s expected divorce from Honda and switch to Renault engines for 2018 is scheduled to be officially confirmed after FP1 on Friday at the Marina Bay Street Circuit and in turn the news that Toro Rosso will become Honda’s sole team for the 2018 F1 world championship.

McLaren decision day looms, Red Bull-Honda in 2019?

As the Formula 1 paddock prepares for the ‘mega-deal’ announcements in Singapore, it appears the 2018 engine agreements could have a knock-on effect at Red Bull for 2019.

McLaren’s expected divorce from Honda and switch to Renault engines for 2018 is scheduled to be officially confirmed after FP1 on Friday at the Marina Bay Street Circuit and in turn the news that Toro Rosso will become Honda’s sole team for the 2018 F1 world championship.

Reports emerging from the Singapore paddock on the Thursday media day from multiple sources state that tied up in the Renault engine deal Red Bull may lose its existing partnership with the French manufacturer at the end of the 2018 season and could then take on Honda engines from 2019.

The engine manufacturer moves are expected to be announced at the same time during the Singapore race weekend in order to give time for details to be finalised after an initial deadline at Monza was missed, while the Red Bull engine situation for 2019 is likely to be delayed to assess Honda’s performance turnaround with Toro Rosso next season after a disastrous three years working with McLaren.

Any Red Bull-Honda partnership could also have an effect to the 2019 driver line-up with both Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo keen to assess the situation next season before making a decision on their futures at the team.

Fernando Alonso says a decision on his 2018 plans will be delayed for 'two weeks' as he assess his options but is expected to sign a one-year deal to stay at McLaren with Renault engines.

In the FIA Drivers' Press Conference Jolyon Palmer has refuted claims he will be shuffled out of his Renault race seat by the Malaysian Grand Prix with Carlos Sainz switching over from Toro Rosso as part of the engine deal.

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