Honda to partner with Sauber from 2018!

The widely expected news that Honda would supply its power unit to Sauber was confirmed this morning in Sochi.

Although Honda has nothing but poor results to show for its past three-year involvement in Formula 1 with McLaren, securing a relationship with a second team will hopefully help its cause thanks to the benefit of extra mileage and development.

"It is a great honour for the Sauber F1 Team to be able to work together with Honda in the coming seasons," said the Swiss outfit's boss Monisha Kaltenborn.

"Our realignment is not just visible through the new ownership but also now with our new technological partnership with Honda.

"We have set another milestone with this new engine era, which we await with huge excitement and of course we are looking for new opportunities.

"We very much look forward to our partnership with Honda, which sets the course for a successful future – from a strategic as well as from a technological perspective.

"We thank Honda for making this great partnership happen."

The deal will end the Hinwill-based team's long-term relationship with current engine supplier Ferrari.

McLaren and Mercedes deny engine supply deal!

On its side, interestingly, Honda is making it clear that its deal with Sauber will be a second supply, which flies in the face of pundit Eddie Jordan's claim that McLaren will be parting ways with the Japanese manufacturer and working with Mercedes next year.

"In addition to the partnership with McLaren which began in 2015, Honda will begin supplying power units to Sauber as a customer team starting from next year," said Honda's Katsuhide Moriyama, Chief Officer, Brand and Communication Operations.

"This will be a new challenge in Honda’s F1 activities. In order to leverage the benefits of supplying to two teams to the maximum extent, we will strengthen the systems and capabilities of both of our two development operations, namely HRD Sakura and the operation in Milton Keynes.

"We will continue our challenges so that our fans will enjoy seeing a Honda with dominant strength as soon as possible."

Gallery: All the action from Saturday in Sochi

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.