Zak Brown paid tribute to Honda for its efforts over the past three years ahead o𝔍f its final race as McLaren's Formula 1 engine supplier in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, adding he could "never say nev♕er" about a future reunion.

McLaren and Honda rekindled their famous partnership from the late 1980s and early '90s back in 2015, only for endure three difficult seasons that yielde✅d not a single podium finish, leaving the British team ninth in the standings ahead of the final race of the season in Abu 🎃Dhabi.

McLaren confirmed in Singapore it would be𒁏 p♍arting company with Honda at the end of the year to link up with Renault from next season. Honda will switch to working with Toro Rosso from the start of 2018.

In a speech given to assembled journalists in Abu Dhabi on Saturday,&nb♈sp;McLaren executive director Brown thanked Honda and its F1 boss Yusuke Has💖egawa for its efforts over the past three years.

"They have been great🔜 partners, they're great people. We get along really well," Brown said.

"It's been a very difficult situation for all of us as you know. But we💮 have remained great friends, they're g𓂃reat people. We will miss them.

"We were with Honda in the late 🐻'80s, so never say never. We could be back again together in the future.

"So Hasegawa-san, I want to thank you for all the effort yo🥀u've put into our partnership, and everyone back in Japan."

Hasegawa was asked in the preceding press conference if𓆉 he was happy to see the end of the season afte🎀r a tough year that saw Honda struggle for both reliability and performance.

"It is obvious the current performance is not what we expect🌠eꦡd," Hasegawa said.

"But also we had some good things an🐻d bad things. We have to take the good things very positively to motivate us for next year.

"I'm OK."