Report: Honda in talks with Sauber over 2018

Jan.18 - Honda's plans to begin supplying a second F1 team with engines are now shaping up.

That is the claim of Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, who said the obvious first customer for Honda is Sauber.

"The Swiss team has not extended its contract with Ferrari," correspondent Michael Schmidt revealed.

Currently, Honda's exclusive works partner is McLaren, whose now-ousted supremo Ron Dennis was earlier opposed to allowing the Japanese carmaker to sell its power unit to a customer.

Reportedly, Honda has completely redesigned its turbo V6 package for 2017, including Mercedes-like 'jet ignition', and a relocated turbine and compressor.

Schmidt continued: "For 2018, the Honda engine will be an option for customers. That is why the Japanese are currently expanding their factory in Milton Keynes, in order to serve two teams in the future."

It is believed Honda needs to know its 2018 plans by this year's <a href="https://www.f1-fansite.com/f1-calendar/Monaco grand prix-grand-prix/">Monaco grand prix grand prix.

But Auto Motor und Sport said Honda's only logical customer is Sauber, who will this year use a 2016-specification Ferrari power unit.

"There are rumours that preliminary talks between Sauber and Honda have already taken place," said Schmidt.

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Leopold

Leopold Pleijsier founded F1-Fansite.com in 2001 and has followed Formula 1 since the early 1980s. He writes about daily F1 news, race weekends, drivers and the sport’s history.

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