Sources Say Honda To Return To F1 In 2015 As McLaren's Engine Supplier

Sources close to the McLaren F1 team said that Honda "will return" to F1 in '15 as McLaren engine partners, replacing Mercedes, according to Shirouzu & Kubota of REUTERS. Honda, which "quit the sport at the end of 2008," hoped F1's new engine regulations for '14 "would help develop technology for its mass volume road cars." The source added, "That incubator aspect of the sport makes Honda's participation worthwhile." Honda spokesperson Shigeki Endo said, "There is nothing we can say at the moment." The link-up with McLaren, the second-most successful team in the sport after Ferrari in terms of race wins and drivers' titles, "would revive one of the greatest Formula One partnerships." Honda "had little success with their own team," but powered McLaren to multiple championships with the late Brazilian triple champion Ayrton Senna and French four times champion Alain Prost between '88-'92 (REUTERS, 5/15).