Marko told Honda chief Masashi Yamamoto he was interested in Red Bull switching in the future if Honda improves its performance sufficiently.

Formula 1, the pinnacle of motor sport, is delighted to announce together with Singapore GP Pte Ltd and Singapore Tourism Board that the Singapore Grand Prix will continue to be part of the Formula 1 World Championship for four more years, from 2018 to 2021.

Since its debut in 2008, the first ever night Grand Prix is one of the highlights of the F1 calendar and one of the most attractive and spectacular races. Over the years, the Singapore event has distinguished itself as one that is not just about the competition, but one complemented by a strong line-up of concerts, entertainment and lifestyle offerings both within the circuit park and throughout the city.

The announcement comes against of the background of a year-on-year 19% growth in ticket sales, with the race weekend sales still to be included.

Chase Carey, Chairman and CEO, Formula 1, said:
S. Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), said:
 
Mr. Ong Beng Seng, Singapore GP, said:
Mr Lionel Yeo, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board said:

Next season will see McLaren running power units from Renault, following their split from Honda announced earlier today. Honda will instead supply Toro Rosso, who are currently using Renault engines.

McLaren have agreed an engine supply partnership with Renault for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons. Despite a combined Formula 1 presence that stretches back to 1977, it will mark the first time that the two brands have ever collaborated.

Meanwhile, Toro Rosso have struck a multi-year agreement to put Honda’s power units in the back of their cars from 2018, having used Renault engines this year as well in 2014 and 2015. In that period they scored 137 points together, with two fourth places their best results.

McLaren say their Renault partnership will be one that will challenge for victory, following three disappointing seasons with Honda power.

“Today’s announcement gives us the stability we need to move ahead with our chassis and technical programme for 2018 without any further hesitation,” said Zak Brown, McLaren Technology Group Executive Director.

“As an organisation, McLaren has always worked extremely hard to form lasting partnerships with its technical suppliers. We’re convinced that we can bring real value to Renault Sport Racing as we work alongside it to develop this current power unit into a regular race winner.”

The deal means that in addition to their own works squad, Renault will have two other championship-winning teams – McLaren and Red Bull – providing feedback on engine development next year.

“This is a strategic decision,” said Jerome Stoll, President of Renault Sport Racing. “This alliance is not only technical and sporting, but also comes with marketing and communication benefits. We know that McLaren will push us hard on track and this competition will be to the benefit of all.”

Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Executive Chairman and Executive Committee principal McLaren Group, described the deal as the start of “a fresh chapter in the McLaren story”, adding that they “can’t wait to get started”.

“At McLaren, we have the motivation, the desire and the resource to be a competitive force in 2018,” he said. “Now Renault power gives us the ability to take a significant step further up the grid.”

Toro Rosso ‘a new chapter’ in Honda’s F1 journey
At Toro Rosso, team principal Franz Tost welcomed their new Japanese partners, saying: “Everyone in our team is very much looking forward to working with Honda. Ever since its founder Soichiro Honda entered his motorcycles in events, racing has always been a central part of the company’s ethos. It’s a very exciting challenge and I hope that both parties will gain a great deal from it as we develop together.

“Honda has a long history in Formula 1, dating back to 1964 when it first entered the sport with its own team and, as an engine supplier it has taken five Drivers’ World Championship titles and six Constructors. This heritage, together with the full confidence that we have in Honda’s capabilities to succeed, make me strongly believe that we will achieve a fruitful future together.”

Technical director James Key conceded that a change of engine supplier midway through the development cycle of Toro Rosso’s 2018 car presented challenges, but insisted they were ones the Italian team can overcome.

“It will be a question of adaption of our plans rather than a wholesale change and we are in the process of re-planning our design and production activities in conjunction with Honda to ensure that we both hit all our important deadlines,” he said.

“Toro Rosso has faced many difficult tasks with timing in the past and has the flexibility to deal with it. We will be working hard not to only re-design the PU installation but also ensure that this has minimal or no effect on the ongoing development work for 2018 – that is our current target.

“The architecture of the car will change in line with the PU requirements and our chassis and gearbox designs are currently under review to be adapted accordingly, similarly we will be working closely with Honda on the performance aspects of the PU installation that the chassis will influence to ensure we maximise the potential of the package as a whole from the outset.”

Takahiro Hachigo, President & Representative Director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd, said that everyone at Honda is looking forward to working with Toro Rosso, and also thanked those involved in running Formula 1 for their help in bringing the new cooperation to fruition.

“We are excited to start this new chapter in our Formula 1 journey,” he commented. “I would like to express our appreciation to Liberty Media and the FIA for their cooperation toward the realization of this partnership.

“Honda and Toro Rosso will work as one team to strive for progress and a successful future together. We appreciate the support of our fans as we begin this challenge.”

Renault have announced that Carlos Sainz will join them from Toro Rosso for 2018, though he will only be ‘on loan’ from Red Bull.

The 23-year-old Spaniard will partner Nico Hulkenberg in a revised line-up, bringing Jolyon Palmer’s two-season spell with the team to a close.

“Carlos Sainz is a very promising driver who has been on our radar for some time, especially after his successes in Renault junior formulae,” said Cyril Abiteboul, Managing Director of Renault Sport Racing.

“It is positive news for us to be able to confirm Carlos for 2018. This choice is well aligned with our mid-term strategic plans. We feel that Nico and Carlos will complement each other on and off track and the combination should help us push forwards on the grid.

“I would like to thank [Red Bull motorsport consultant ] Helmut Marko for loaning Carlos to us for this period. We must thank Jolyon for his ongoing hard work with the team and his efforts over the past two seasons. He is a dedicated driver and we wish him the best in the next steps of his career.”

Sainz, who has raced in 53 Grands Prix to date, scoring 100 points with a best finish of sixth place, expressed his delight with the move.

“I’m very happy to be joining Renault Sport Formula One Team,” he said. “To be a Formula 1 driver for a manufacturer team is an honour and I hope to reward Renault’s faith in me with my very best performances on track.

“The trajectory of Renault Sport Formula One Team is exciting and I’m proud to join at such an important time in their history. I am looking forward to working with everyone at Enstone and Viry, and driving alongside Nico Hulkenberg.

“I have worked closely with Renault in Formula 1 and previously in motorsport, so I know their motivation and capabilities. This is the start of a very exciting new chapter in my career.

“I would like to say thank you to Red Bull for all their confidence and support and for allowing me to take this opportunity. Last but not least, I specially want to thank all the people that work in Toro Rosso. They are a fantastic team of professionals and I wish them the best for the future.”

Red Bull's Marko said he wished Sainz the best of luck in his new role, and, with reigning GP2 champion Pierre Gasly waiting in the wings, hinted that the Spaniard’s move would open the door for another young driver at Toro Rosso.

“He is a tremendous talent and he will benefit from working with a manufacturer team alongside a highly experienced driver," said Marko of Sainz. "This will give Carlos a different challenge and we will be keenly watching his progress there as he remains part of the Red Bull family.

“This is very good development for both Carlos and Renault Sport Formula One Team and will also allow us to bring a new talent into Formula One."

Renault made a bold attempt to grab Daniel Ricciardo from Red Bull for the 2018 Formula 1 season as part of the deal to cancel Toro Rosso's engine contract.

Multiple sources with good knowledge of the situation have revealed the Ricciardo bid happened during the complicated negotiations that allowed McLaren and Toro Rosso to swap their Honda and Renault engine supplies for next year.

Renault has been on the hunt for a new team-mate for Nico Hulkenberg next year, and sensed a good opportunity to get one of Red Bull's roster in exchange for letting Toro Rosso switch to Honda.

Although Red Bull has ultimately agreed to release Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz Jr for 2018 - on the proviso that he could be brought back for the following year if he is needed - it has emerged he was not the only driver Renault targeted during talks.

Sources have revealed that at one stage, as discussions reached a crunch point for the engine changes to go ahead, Renault made a bid to get Ricciardo instead.

Ricciardo's form against Max Verstappen makes him one of the key players in the future driver market, especially with his contract at Red Bull coming to an end after next year.

But with Red Bull well aware of Ricciardo's strengths and having no interest in letting him go, in the end Renault gave up its pursuit and focused efforts on Sainz instead.

Red Bull gave its blessing for Sainz to move to Renault, although there has been no final decision on when Sainz will make the team switch.

Renault has been pushing to get Sainz in the car as early as possible, potentially from the Malaysian Grand Prix - with his place at Toro Rosso then taken, at least in the short term, by Red Bull junior and 2016 GP2 champion Pierre Gasly.

But Renault's current driver Jolyon Palmer is standing firm over the contract he has in place, and unless the two parties reach a compromise deal and agree to part ways there is no way open for Sainz to be slotted in.

Palmer was in a defiant mood in Singapore on Thursday when asked about his future situation, and the prospect of losing his seat from Malaysia.

"I have a contract. I've got seven more races this year," he said.

"There have been suggestions for the past 35 races that I might not be at the next one, or in the next few, so this is nothing new for me.

"It's water off a duck's back now."

The Indian Grand Prix was first held at the Buddh International Circuit in 2011. Subsequently, Formula 1 returned to India in 2012 and 2013, the latter being the year Sebastian Vettel sealed his 4th world championship (and last with Red Bull). The Indian Grand Prix though has not been held since then due to issues with government taxation even though the race track has a contract to hold two more races for the premier motorsport championship. Now though, the chances of Formula 1 coming back to India seem to be bright as new Formula 1 Boss, Chase Carey of Liberty Media recently said that India had great potential for the sport that hasn't been in the country for four years now.

Libery Media recently bought the rights to the sport from Bernie Ecclestone ending his 40 year reign as the head of Formula 1. At the on going Singapore Grand Prix, Liberty Media boss, Chase Carey said, "India is a country that certainly has great potential and as we go forward, we will continue to study. We have so far not got a chance to engage in depth yet, it has only been a little over half a year since the complete change in ownership."

He went on to add, "Our focus as of today is making sure that the 21 races next year is everything as it can be. But there are places around the world that present us with great opportunities for us to grow the sport overtime and certainly a country like India with the success and the growth it has had in recent years, makes it an exciting opportunity down the road."

The Formula One calendar henceforth will have a total of 21 races every year, only five of which will be held in Asia. the Malaysian GP, which has been one of the most popular races of the season will not be on the calendar next year as other countries angle for a chance to hold the premier motorsport series. That said, considering the financial problems faced in the past with the Jaypee Group that owns the Buddh International Circuit and the red tape that surrounded the event with regards to high taxation, it will be an uphill battle for the Grand Prix to make a successful return.

The last race, held in 2013 also saw very poor crowd participation with less than 50 per cent of the grand stands filled to capacity. All said and done though, with the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes-AMG battling for the top spot every year and the sport becoming more and more interesting with every race, the Indian F1 fans would love to see the series return to India.

A flurry of announcements in Singapore confirmed the news the F1 paddock had been anticipating for some time – that McLaren and Honda will split at the end of the season, with the Woking team switching to Renault power for 2018, effectively swapping power units suppliers with Toro Rosso. What does it really mean for the former champions? We chatted exclusively with racing director Eric Boullier to find out…

Q: Eric, McLaren’s parting with Honda is finally official. Can you reiterate the crucial moments that led to that decision?

Eric Boullier: The crucial moment was after the Barcelona testing, when we tried to work and help Honda to improve the situation in a very short time, including having discussions with the other engine manufacturers, and without going into details, it became obvious that they again would miss the target that we had agreed for the season. Then by the summer we knew that we had to take a decision, to stay or not to stay.

Q: When was the point of no return? Was it in the summer?

EB: I can’t say a date, but there had been a couple of targets missed by summer.

Q: Qualifying in Singapore looked really promising – both cars in Q3! Was that a one-off or a sign that you had called it off five minutes too soon?

EB: Ha, if you look at the track characteristics, Singapore is a bit like Budapest or Monaco and on these kinds of track layout the power differentiation from the engine is a bit less sensitive and that is when we can show the potential that is in our car.

Q: With the split with Honda, McLaren are effectively giving up works team status to become an engine customer. Was that the hardest part?

EB: Well, difficult to say right now. We are ‘privileged customers’ with Renault. We have the same engine and access to information as Enstone or Red Bull Racing, so this is a real partnership with Renault. We also have the possibility to work with them – to put ideas in the box for the future that might be taken into consideration. That will allow us to influence in the future. But yes, a full works team is different from our situation in 2018. But it is like in school: you look at the plusses and the minuses – and looking at all the plusses and minuses we made our decision, which we believe will be the best one for McLaren for at least the next three years.

Q: What about the finances? Instead of receiving money from the engine partner you will now have to spend money on the engine. How much is that hurting?

EB: Well, when you look at the last three years it’s been a proper disaster for us in terms of credibility and getting new sponsors. And then you have to take the long-term view: in the next five years I am absolutely sure that we will go back to where McLaren belongs. And with this bouncing back we get our credibility back and it will rebuild our sponsor portfolio. It might take two to three years. We are ninth in the championship – with a top engine I think we would be fourth right now and just on the FOM money we could cover the engine side, so it will not be a big risk on the monetary side. Thanks to the shareholders who have been brave enough to take a sporting choice and not hurt McLaren. They could have said, ‘Let’s wait until Honda wakes up’.

Q: There was often the impression from the outside that McLaren and Honda were talking past each other. Is there some truth in that?

EB: I don’t think so. Actually the idea was great: to revive the story of McLaren. I think it was more the approach to the project at the beginning. Things could have panned out completely differently if different decisions had been taken at the beginning – but this is always easy to say in hindsight.

Q: Renault will now supply three teams: its own works team, plus Red Bull Racing and McLaren – both major challengers to Renault’s own ambitions. Where do you see McLaren in the pecking order? Surely the works team will always come first…

EB: Let’s put it this way: legally and contractually we are equal. But yes, the heart is big sometimes – and there are favours given. But as I said, legally and contractually all will be treated the same.

Q: Does it help that you know Renault very well? Being compatriots always makes things easier…

EB: Ha, well, I have been living now for nine years in the UK and you definitely can feel a difference in culture. And when it comes to understanding different cultures I stepped massively up with Honda. But being a foreigner in the UK, I sometimes was the ‘peacemaker’ between Japan and the UK, certainly in terms of tone and bridging the gap between the Honda and McLaren culture. But to be honest, we already had a meeting about cultural differences with our new partner. You try to ease things to get the best relationship possible.Q: Is Fernando Alonso part of the package? He won his two titles with a Renault and it would surely have been hard to convince him to do a difficult fourth season…

EB: Yes and no. But to be honest, I don’t think he is in that stage right now. He is only interested – and he’s been saying this for months – in a competitive car. That is for him. For us – McLaren – we are happy that the shareholders have made a sporting choice and not a business choice and changed the engine. McLaren’s DNA is to be competitive – the team has always been in the top three and we belong there again. Today we know that we have a decent chassis, which would allow us to be in the top three again with an equal level engine, so for us as a business it is important to be competitive, no matter what role Fernando plays. We had to make this decision for us. But if you want to be competitive you not only need an engine, you also need a driver. That is when Fernando comes into the picture. We did what we did for McLaren first – but the package includes also the driver.

Q: How close are you with Fernando?

EB: Very close. Fernando wants to stay. You can see it in his body language and the way he speaks. There are marketing details that have to be sorted out and that Zak (Brown) is working on.

Q: What is the schedule for the next couple of months?

EB: We are flat out working on the 2018 car. There are a lot of changes in terms of layout of the engine, so we have to redesign some of the parts we already had in our mind. We are a little behind in terms of decision – I would have loved this decision to have been made a couple of weeks ago – then we need to close Fernando.

Q: How is Honda dealing with your decision? How hard was it to bid them farewell?

EB: Very hard. The whole story for them, as it was for us, was to recreate the legacy of the past. On paper everything looked right. Just the way it’s been done was not right, obviously. Luckily we managed to make it an amicable settlement and they understood that all the investment that they have made, they should get a reward from that at some stage. We can’t wait – but they can get the reward with somebody else. I am so glad that they have decided to stay in Formula 1 and commit to another team. Personally I feel a bit sad that it didn’t work, but these have been very intense three years.

Q: Toro Rosso will run Honda power next season. What advice would you give their team principal Franz Tost?

EB: None - he is a competitor! (Laughs)

Red Bull will race as Aston Martin Red Bull Racing from the 2018 season after agreeing a new title and innovation partnership with the iconic car manufacturer.The technical partnership will also see a new Advanced Performance Centre being established at Red Bull Racing’s campus later this year, enabling a closer working relationship between the two parties on both F1 and road car technology. The centre is expected to create 110 new jobs, as well as housing Aston Martin’s design and engineering personnel responsible for future sports cars from the two companies.

Aston Martin president and CEO Andy Palmer said his company could look to get further involved in F1 as an engine manufacturer, should conditions be right.

"Title partnership is the next logical step for our Innovation Partnership with Red Bull Racing," Palmer explained.

"We are enjoying the global brand awareness that a revitalised Formula One provides. The power unit discussions (in Formula One) are of interest to us, but only if the circumstances are right. We are not about to enter an engine war with no restrictions in cost or dynamometer hours but we believe that if the FIA can create the right environment we would be interested in getting involved."
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner hailed the strengthened partnership, adding: "Our Innovation Partnership with Aston Martin has been a pioneering project from day one. Having conceived and created the remarkably successful Aston Martin Valkyrie together in 2016, we extended our relationship this year and are now delighted to further strengthen the partnership and see the team competing as Aston Martin Red Bull Racing in 2018.

"In addition, more than 100 Aston Martin staff will service the new Advanced Performance Centre on our campus here in Milton Keynes and it will allow us to collaborate further with Aston Martin on special, equally innovative, new projects."

The relationship between Aston Martin and Red Bull began in 2016 after the two companies combined to produce the ground-breaking Aston Martin Valkyrie, which is set to make its first run in 2018 before being delivered to customers the following year.

As a result of the new announcement, Aston Martin branding will feature 'prominently across the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team from the start of the 2018 season'.

Pierre Gasly will make his Formula 1 debut with Toro Rosso at this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.

The 21-year-old Frenchman, who won the GP2 series last year, will replace Daniil Kvyat "for the next Grands Prix", Toro Rosso said in a statement.

"He is being given a chance to prove himself in F1," the team added.

"This is a great opportunity for me," said Gasly, who is reserve and test driver for Red Bull, Toro Rosso's sister team.

"I feel as ready as I can be, having had to be prepared for anything in my role as Red Bull Racing's third driver this year.

"I will do my best to perform well with Toro Rosso during these coming races."

Kvyat has struggled to impress so far this season, scoring just four points from 14 races.

The Russian has raced for Toro Rosso since the fifth race of last season after he was demoted from Red Bull following a calamitous Russian Grand Prix in which he crashed into Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel twice within two corners.

Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost said: "For a variety of reasons, some of them due to technical problems, but others being mistakes of his own making, Daniil Kvyat has not really shown his true potential so far this year, which is why we are standing him down for the next races.

"The driver switch gives us an opportunity to make a more informed decision regarding our 2018 driver choices."

BBC Sport's chief F1 writer Andrew Benson:

Daniil Kvyat's F1 career has been on borrowed time ever since he was demoted from the Red Bull senior team back to junior outfit Toro Rosso in May last year to make way for Max Verstappen.

Only an exceptional performance could have saved him and he hasn't provided it, out-shone by team-mate Carlos Sainz these last 18 months.

Beyond that, this move has some interesting ramifications.

First, it can now be assumed that Jolyon Palmer will see out the season with Renault. The French team have secured Sainz on loan for 2018 and had hoped to bring the Spaniard over early for the final races of this season in place of Palmer.

Had that happened, Gasly would have replaced Sainz. The fact the Frenchman is now in for the dropped Kvyat almost certainly means Sainz will stay at Toro Rosso to the end of the year - and therefore Palmer has won his fight to force Renault to honour his contract.

Second, it raises an interesting question about who will be in the second Toro Rosso in 2018.

One expects Gasly will stay, and that Kvyat will surely not come back.

The hot tip is Japanese Nobuharu Matsushita. The Formula Two race-winner is a protege of Honda, whose engines Toro Rosso will have next year.