Honda are poised to announce that they will start supplying engines to Formula One strugglers Sauber, but whether or not they will become a second customer team remains to be seen as cracks continue to open up in the relationship with McLaren.

It’s understood that talks took place in Australia between Sauber and Honda, and although no announcement was made in Melbourne, a decision over a new partnership could be made before the end of next month.

Whether or not Sauber choose to make the switch from Ferrari power to Honda during the season remains to be seen, but they are already operating at a hindrance due to running the 2016 version of the Prancing Horse.

The Swiss team, whose striking 2017 car is also notable for its lack of major sponsorship, managed a 12th-place finish through replacement driver Antonio Giovinazzi in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, with the Italian standing in for the injured Pascal Wehrlein. It was expected that the German will return in time to compete at next weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, but Ferrari today confirmed that they have released Giovinazzi once again in case Sauber need to call on the manufacturers’ reserve driver.

While his debut drive from 16th to 12th certainly impressed, Sauber will be desperate to get points on the board as soon as possible. The team managed to secure tenth in the Constructors’ Championship last season at the penultimate race in Brazil, though with Manor F1 no longer on the grid, Sauber are left fighting to move off the back of the pack.

One of those teams they will hope to overtake is McLaren-Honda, and the relationship between the two motorsport giants continues to be strained at best. Fernando Alonso has been openly critical of the lack of power coming from the Honda engine, and after two disappointing years together, the McLaren of 2017 appears to have taken a step backwards rather than forwards.

Alonso looked to be working miracles last Sunday as he clung on to the final points-paying position of tenth, but the Spaniard was forced to retire following a suspension failure, while rookie teammate Stoffel Vandoorne finished last after suffering from a number of technical issues.

Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Winner Ferrari's German driver Sebastian Vettel (R) and runner-up Mercedes's British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) take part in a press conference after the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Vettel celebrates winning in Melbourne. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Vettel clinched the 43rd victory of his career. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Hamilton and Vettel embrace after the Grand Prix. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Vettel arrives in parc ferme after winning the race. EPA Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Vettel crosses the line to win the Australian Grand Prix. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Fernando Alonso's dogged drive to remain ahead of Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon was ended after suspected suspension failure Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Hamilton led Vettel until the pit stops when the Ferrari driver leapfrogged his Mercedes rival. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Marcus Ericsson and Kevin Magnussen collide at the third corner in Melbourne Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Australian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton led from the start as Sebastian Vettel fended off Valtteri Bottas Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Qualifying Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton speak during the post-qualifying press conference Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Qualifying Lewis Hamilton is given a lift down the pit lane in the safety car after clinching pole position Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Qualifying Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for the sixth time in Australia Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Qualifying Romain Grosjean locks up a tyre on his final qualifying lap Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Third Practice Sebastian Vettel set the fastest lap ever seen around Albert Park to top third practice Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Third Practice Marcus Ericsson flashes past the Albert Park Lake Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Saturday Third Practice Esteban Ocon gets to grips with the Force India car during third practice Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Marcus Ericsson beached his Sauber in the gravel trap during the afternoon session. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Jolyon Palmer jumps through a gap in the fence after crashing his Renault on the entry to the start/finish straight. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Palmer's Renault is recovered to the pit lane ahead of a busy night rebuilding it. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Sebastian Vettel appeared puzzled by the gap to the lead Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Daniel Ricciardo runs wide on the exit of turn one. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Romain Grosjean takes a trip over the gravel trap. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday Second Practice Lewis Hamilton was fastest in the first two practice sessions of the year in Melbourne Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday First Practice The Force India of Esteban Ocon runs over the kerb during first practice. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday First Practice Daniel Ricciardo flashes by on the back straight in his Red Bull. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday First Practice Hamilton was half-a-second faster than his nearest challenger in Vettel Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday First Practice Lewis Hamilton pears through his visor at the start of the new season. Getty Australian Grand Prix 2017 - in pictures Friday First Practice Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon stand by the new pink-livery Force India. Getty