Rosberg: McLaren F1 wins impossible in 2015
Nico Rosberg says McLaren-Honda's 2015 Formula One campaign will not yield victories, citing the time required for new partnerships to become competitive.
Nico Rosberg has dismissed any prospect of McLaren-Honda fighting for wins during the 2015 Formula One season, arguing that the scale of the team's challenge makes victories out of reach this year.
Speaking to Spain's Marca sports daily, Rosberg pointed to the time it took for other teams to become regular winners after major changes. Mercedes, for example, spent four years developing its works team before emerging as the dominant force in 2014. Red Bull’s rise to the front also took four seasons, while Michael Schumacher’s first title with Ferrari came in his fifth year. Rosberg said that, by comparison, McLaren’s 2015 project is still in its infancy.
McLaren returned to Honda power in 2015 after more than two decades with other suppliers, aiming to revive the success of their late-1980s partnership. Fernando Alonso rejoined the team from Ferrari, but the new car suffered from ongoing reliability problems and lacked pace against Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. Early races saw McLaren struggling to finish in the points, let alone challenge for podiums or wins.
Development timelines for top F1 teams
| Team | Major Change | Years to Regular Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes | Works team re-entry (2010) | 4 |
| Red Bull | Full works status (2005) | 4 |
| Ferrari | Schumacher era begins (1996) | 5 |
| McLaren-Honda | Reunion (2015) | Not expected in 2015 |
Rosberg’s comments echo those of other paddock figures who have urged patience. Alain Prost, who won titles with McLaren-Honda, recently said that Alonso could not expect instant results from the new partnership, suggesting it might take the entire season or longer to become competitive. Honda themselves have acknowledged that their return to Formula One has been tougher than anticipated, with both engine performance and reliability falling short of expectations.
For McLaren’s drivers and engineers, the 2015 season has become a development year rather than a campaign for silverware. The team’s focus remains on building a foundation for future competitiveness, with little expectation of challenging Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull before the end of the season.
