The 2018 Season

[Penfold]

A mere nine months early for such a topic, but seemed as good a place as any to stick the provisional calendar:

25 March: Australia (Melbourne)
8 April: China* (Shanghai)
15 April: Bahrain (Sakhir)
29 April: Azerbaijan (Baku)
13 May: Spain (Barcelona)
27 May: Monaco
10 June: Canada (Montreal)
24 June: France (Le Castellet)
1 July: Austria (Spielberg)
8 July: Great Britain (Silverstone)
22 July: Germany (Hockenheim)
29 July: Hungary (Budapest)
26 August: Belgium (Spa-Francorchamps)
2 September: Italy (Monza)
16 September: Singapore*
30 September: Russia (Sochi)
7 October: Japan (Suzuka)
21 October: USA (Austin, TX)
28 October: Mexico (Mexico City)
11 November: Brazil (Sao Paulo)
25 November: Abu Dhabi (Yas Marina)

*Provisional


First ever triple-header for F1 - France/Austria/UK

[Chrill]

https://www.sauberf1team.com/news/the-planned-technological-partnership-between-the-sauber-f1-team-and-honda-is-cancelled

No Sauber-Honda for 2018. The deal has officially been cancelled.

[Penfold]

Sauber to continue with Ferrari but with access to latest-spec engines: http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/07/28/sauber-continue-ferrari-splitting-honda/

Sounds like a pricey upgrade on current deal so one wonders whether a Ferrari development driver might find himself in a Sauber seat next year.

[Chrill]

Well, yes. Ericsson-Leclerc. I'm about 80% certain this is their lineup for 2018. Giovinazzi will run as third driver to Ferrari, Haas, and Sauber. Raikkonen will remain at Ferrari for yet another year, simply because there is nobody to replace him with.

[Penfold]

... and where would that leave Wehrlein?  Tell you what, I'll ask that exact same question in the '2018 Driver Speculation' thread and see what kind of answers I get.

[Chrill]

I'm sure I posted this somewhere but cannot find it. These topics are all the same sometimes.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/honda-talks-toro-rosso-sauber-engine-935338/

Honda linked to Toro Rosso for 2018.

[Penfold]

On the 'Snippets' thread about a week ago, think it came from German media.

Question of whether Toro Rosso wants to once again shift their powertrain supply away from that used by its Red Bull parent.  I thought part of the explanation of coming back to Renault units was so the entire RB family was running much the same back end.

[Chrill]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/toro-rosso-honda-negotiations-937685/

More words on a Toro Rosso-Honda matchup.

[Penfold]

So it might be all about Marko hedging his bets for future Red Bull engine supply - assuming McLaren wouldn't veto a deal with a top team.  Interesting.

[Chrill]

McLaren probably would veto, but FIA rules would overrule that veto if Honda does not supply enough engines.

[Penfold]

McLaren 'B' team... problem solved.

[Penfold]

Toro Rosso is sticking with Renault units for next year: https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/toro-rosso-honda-engine-talks-breakdown-942096/

[Chrill]

Toro Rosso-Honda and McLaren-Renault looking likelier:

https://www.grandprix247.com/2017/09/04/mclaren-and-honda-a-step-closer-to-divorce/

[Penfold]

It sure is.  It would be a more obvious move to make if so many Renault units hadn't failed this season... but it might be enough to keep Alonso on board and give McLaren a shot at fourth place in 2018.  Shame, I sorely wanted to see Honda get their shit together but there's just insufficient progress.

[Penfold]

Ross Brawn has been involved in the McLaren engine discussions as the Formula One Group is keen to have Honda in F1.  Apparently he said they were looking for "a solution to keeping Honda in the sport and giving McLaren more opportunity".  No idea what that bit about more opportunity means.