By alley - Aug 3, 2017, 11:03 AM ET

Honda and Toro Rosso in talks over 2018

Talks are ongoing between Honda and Toro Rosso regarding a 2018 power unit supply following the cancellation of Sauber's deal with the Japanese manufacturer.

Sauber had announced it would switch to Honda power back at the Russian Grand Prix, but the change of management following Monisha Kaltenborn's departure saw the deal canceled last week, with the Swiss team instead opting to

continue its partnership with Ferrari

While Red Bull had been linked with a Honda power unit at the end of 2015 when it was seeking a way out of its Renault deal, McLaren blocked the move at the time. However, sister team Toro Rosso switched to year-old Ferrari power units for a year as a result of the uncertainty before returning to Renault this season.

Although Toro Rosso currently has a deal with Renault in place for 2018, it is understood to be open to picking up the supply earmarked for Sauber. Such an agreement would allow Red Bull to analyze Honda's progress next season, with its own Renault deal set to run out at the end of 2018.

Despite continuing negotiations, RACER understands there are still some potential hurdles to overcome for any deal due to the last-minute timing, including the length of the contract looking ahead to the end of the current power unit regulations in 2020.

While talks are conducted by Honda's motorsport general manager Masashi Yamamoto - who met with Red Bull advisor Helmet Marko earlier this week - head of F1 project Yusuke Hasegawa warned it would be difficult for the Japanese manufacturer to take on a new customer at such late notice.

Asked if there was a chance for any other team to be supplied by Honda next year, Hasegawa told RACER: "I don't think so.

"Technically speaking it is possible still, but we need to concentrate on our performance and we don't want to have more political issues to deal with."

So far Honda has only supplied McLaren since it returned to F1 at the start of the 2015 season, but the partnership with the Woking-based team remains in doubt following three years of poor performance, with McLaren working on a potential switch to Renault power next year. As a result, a Toro Rosso deal would be attractive to Honda as it could lead to a future Red Bull supply, keeping it in partnership with a front-running team.