What if Fernando Alonso was right?

The latest Grand Prix races have shown that Honda's hybrid engine is finally catching up, and the improvements unveiled in Malaysia took many by surprise. Fernando Alonso may have been right when he said that only Honda could ultimately surpass Mercedes.

At the start of the 2015 season, the McLaren-Honda alliance was an example not to follow in the sport: world-class drivers Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button were relegated to the back of the pack, their straight-line speed eclipsed by a Ferrari that many still considered underpowered. Critics pointed the finger at Honda's engine program, which was deemed out of step with contemporary Formula 1, questioning both its reliability and pure performance, two essential pillars of any attempt to win the championship. However, one year after the infamous Suzuka confrontation, where a frustrated Alonso shouted “GP2 engine! GP2!” over the team radio, the narrative is changing. That outburst, broadcast around the world, may have been a wake-up call for the Japanese manufacturer, but it also underscored the driver's unshakeable belief that this partnership could still bear fruit. After a series of setbacks, embarrassing moments, and relentless development work, the Honda engine has begun to shake off the stigma it suffered at the start of the season. Alonso's bet on McLaren was not a reckless professional decision, but a calculated gamble on the 2017 rule changes that promise to shake up the competitive hierarchy. While the powerhouses of motorsport—Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull—are unlikely to find themselves in the middle of the pack, the rule changes open a window for teams like Williams, Force India, and, most importantly, McLaren, which could make a significant leap forward.

The ingredients for a revival are now in place. McLaren benefits from a stable financial situation, a reorganized management structure that has been in place for several months, recent success, and a balanced driver lineup. More importantly, the Honda engine, once considered a handicap, is finally delivering power that matches the team's ambitions.

If the aerodynamics department avoids major mistakes in the new-generation chassis, McLaren could well return to the front of the pack. The partnership that once seemed a relic of the dream factory era of the 1980s could finally deliver on its promise, giving Alonso the platform he has long claimed is his best chance to regain a world title.