Honda not giving up on McLaren insists Hasegawa

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Honda F1 boss Yusuke Hasegawa isn't throwing in the towel but fears he won't be able to convince McLaren not to leave the pair's partnership.

McLaren and Honda are in their third year together but while the Japanese manufacturer has shed its blood, sweat and tears since 2014 it hasn't succeeded in delivering a performing and reliable power unit to the Woking-based outfit.

As a divorce looms, with an announcement expected as soon as this week, Honda has been holding on however, pressing on with upgrades despite its crumbling relationship with McLaren.

"I'm still trying to make good performance to convince them [McLaren] but I'm not sure it will be enough," said Honda chief Yusuke Hasegawa.

"We Honda never give up to keep this collaboration."

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Curiously, Hasegawa reveals that Honda difficult state of affairs has boosted its troops, both in Milton Keynes and back in Japan at the company's base at Sakura.

"It's accelerating our development. It becomes motivational inside the factory," said the engineer.

Haseagawa is hoping Singapore - a track better suited to McLaren-Honda - will bring a positive result.

"We have some confidence about competitiveness [at Singapore]," he added.

"We have already decided the current engine will go to Singapore. We may update some settings or engine settings but we cannot do a big update in Singapore."

McLaren took a strategic grid penalty at Monza in order to race with fresh and updated engines in Asia. But it could all turn out to be too little too late for the collapsing partnership.

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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.