Another race weekend, another shift in momentum.
Still no-one has managed to string together consecutive victories this season and, while Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel remains atop the drivers' championship, the Canadian Grand Prix, at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, saw Lewis Hamilton draw level in terms of race wins, with the two now on three a piece for the campaign. More than that, it felt like the ball was distinctly returned to Vettel's court, such was the dominance of Hamilton's race.
Also providing a sense of déjà vu were McLaren. Just as it looked like they might have two riders across the finish line for the first time this season – with Fernando Alonso on course for their first point, no less – they were once again hit by engine trouble, which forced Alonso to retire with just two laps remaining.
Animosity growing between McLaren and Honda
Seven races have passed so far in the 2017 Formula One season, meaning that between their two cars there have been 14 opportunities to cross the finish line. That this has been achieved just three times – with none of those occasions putting any points on the board – tells the whole story of how disastrous this campaign has been so far for the Woking-based outfit.
Someone was always going to get the blame, and most of the fingers are currently being pointed in the direction of Honda, the team's engine supplier, with the usually reserved racing director Éric Boullier saying that the latest failure in Montreal was “gut-wrenching” and “absolutely not good enough”.
While Boullier would not be drawn on whether McLaren would seek to extricate itself from its ten-year contract with Honda, Zak Brown, the team's executive director, said that “something needs to change”, adding that McLaren would be taking a “proactive” approach to remedying the “serious concerns” he had about Honda, hinting perhaps at an impending separation. Leaving the long-term deal will not be easy or, indeed, cheap – according the UK's Mail on Sunday, it could cost the team as much as UK£78 million (US$99 million) – but it may work out less expensive in the long run than sticking with an engine that can't be trusted.
That same paper reported that McLaren shareholder Mansour Ojjeh met with senior figures from Mercedes to discuss a move to its engines, a switch which McLaren expect to be completed in time for next season.
Permanent switch for Alonso?
For Fernando Alonso, McLaren's two-time former world champion, the disappointment in Canada only compounded the miserable time he endured two weeks previously when suffering engine failure during the Indy 500.
After Montreal, Alonso was forthright. “We have to win,” he said. “If we are winning before September, when I will make a decision, I will stay. I joined this project to win the title. If you are not in a competitive position, maybe you change project.”
Though the most likely option for him is another move within Formula One – with rumours circulating about a potential return to either Ferrari or Renault – there is also discussion that the driver may favour a permanent switch to IndyCar and with it another shot at Indy 500 glory.
Brawn uses brains
McLaren's woes are having implications beyond the team, with Formula One and its ownership group Liberty Media concerned for the health of one of the sport's most decorated and historic teams. This weekend Ross Brawn, Formula One managing director of motorsports, admitted that he had taken the unusual step of holding conversations with Honda to explore whether there was anything the management body could do to help with the ongoing problems.
“I have had some discussions with them to see if I can help them have any clarity on what they need to do for the future,” said Brawn. “We value Honda as part of the sport and if we can do anything to support their efforts to improve for the future we will do that.”
Silver lining for Silverstone?
Every year, it seems, a new story circulates about a historic old Formula One circuit disappearing from the calendar due to the spiralling costs of hosting. For Monza last year, read Silverstone this.
The owner of the UK track, the British Racing Drivers' Club, is still to activate the clause extending its contract beyond 2019, which it has until this year's British Grand Prix – on 14th to 16th July – to do.
The British Racing Drivers' Club is demanding that Formula One reduce the fee for hosting, but the sport's managing director of commercial operations, Sean Bratches, is confident that an agreement can be reached.
“We are in conversations with the British Grand Prix and the team there and we are optimistic of having a long-term future of having a grand prix in Great Britain,” said Bratches.
“We have three years to the last grand prix under the contract. So there is a lot of things that can happen in that period of time, notwithstanding what happens in the next three weeks.”