McLaren are beginning to put plans in place for 2018 that may not include engine supplier Honda, according to team boss Zak Brown, who says the Woking team may be forced to part ways with the Japanese manufacturer unless things change.
The relationship between the two companies is strained more than ever with Brown recently admitting he is disappointed with Honda's lack of upgrades, particularly the promised Canada developments which have been indefinitely delayed.
Things weren't helped on Friday when Fernando Alonso – who says he will leave the team if things don't dramatically improve by September – suffered power unit problems after just one timed lap during practice.
Brown says Honda must wake up and realise that something must change as what they've been doing for the past three seasons hasn't been working.
"Something needs to change," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "If you keep doing the same thing you're going to get the same result, and they've been doing the same thing for a couple of years now.
"So they need to take some change, maybe take some risks, maybe do some stuff they wouldn't normally do.
"But you can't just keep doing the same thing, getting the same result, and then just think that by some miraculous thing it's just going to change the next race. They need to approach it a little bit differently."
Brown stressed that parting ways could be an option for McLaren and that alternative plans are being put in place should it come to that.
"We're starting to work on 2018's car – 2018 will be here shortly. We need to make any decisions that impact '18 by the summer break.
"We have a Plan B, we have a Plan C. We've got plans. We're friends with everyone up and down pitlane, so we have coffee and chat about a variety of things. So we're all right."
Although Brown didn't elaborate on what those options might be, McLaren have already held talks with former partner Mercedes and it's thought a reunion would be the most likely option.
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