Honda to test new engine in Bahrain next week
- Published on 11 Apr 2017 10:39
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- By: Rob Veenstra
Honda is working hard to have a new specification of its struggling 2017 engine ready to test after Bahrain. After the China-Bahrain double header, teams will remain on the island Kingdom for a rare in-season test, and sources in Japan claim Honda wants to have an improved power unit to run.
According to Spain's Marca newspaper, Honda chief Yusuke Hasegawa acknowledged that the problem at the moment is with "the combustion engine". The report said: "If it (the new engine) is above all reliable, and more powerful, it could debut at the fourth race in Russia, which is one race earlier than expected."
Hasegawa said: "We do not want to set a date for this improvement, but we can do as many changes as we want because there are no tokens this year. As soon as it is ready, we will use it," he added. (GMM)
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Replies (18)
Login to replyKevin
Posts: 5,294
Hopefully it will make the Honda at least on-par with Renault, so that McLaren can take its fight to Red Bull.
f1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
Highly, highly unlikely
HEINZ
Posts: 61
You are too optimistic... It would be already a good improvement if they could match Toro Rosso! At least they should solve the reliability problems and extract some more top speed.
Kevin
Posts: 5,294
Honda's Hasegawa has been the reason for my optimism. Why? Because he has been very optimistic himself in his latest interview, which is usually nothing like him. He said they only have to address some issues with the engine, until the MCL32 can win races. The update to the engine is "big" and should improve both reliability and power. He is normally never this outspoken, which makes me highly optimistic. Maybe too much, we'll see in Sochi.
Barron
Posts: 625
Hmmmm....I actually have a better feeling about this although if wrong, I will present myself here with egg all over the appropriate place..
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Well, we better begin to discuss what place we consider appropriate then, because Im also moderately semioptimistic about this. ;) I doubt it will be a world changer, but as of now any improvement is good improvement.
f1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
Right now, do they need power or reliability??
TommyK
Posts: 10
More power!!!
If your 2 options were;
1)be last & finish
OR
2)be 4th but might blow up...
I'd choose option 2 every time.
LightIsRight
Posts: 113
Exactly! Couldn't agree more in this instance.
f1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
Hard to disagree but surely reliability is a good basis for producing speed
HEINZ
Posts: 61
In F1 they want choose always power, then work on reliability. It is said to be easier that way...
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Depends, higher reliability means that "underclocked" units can be put on higher performance levels. Doesnt matter how fast a PU is if you will have to downclock it. Generally speaking one will give you the other, and I think they aim to get both, along with efficiency. Either way, as of now even smaller performance gains will help them greatly.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
Unusual for Honda to make public statements like this so I'm psuedosemioptimistic. With the token system gone Honda has to save face with their next engine release. It was a pretty bold move to scrap last year's engine design and build a new, but if there is one thing that Honda does well it's build engines. Let's hope they get it right sooner rather than later. Can't wait to see Alonso fighting it out with the likes of Hamilton and Vettel again.
mclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
Bwhahahaha, yeah I like to win the lottery too someday, I know I can win it.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
If I can win it, you can. I did win once.. 2 euro... Still counts!... XD
mclarenfan1968
Posts: 1,027
Safe to say then your luck is way better than mine.
Barron
Posts: 625
I've won in the EuroMillions lottery many times! Maximum was £10 but a win is a win nevertheless, so not out of reach. So, what do you do? Throw in the towel or keep trying? Honda have to keep going. They can turn it around and it will probably mean more to them to do so after their recent history. Having said that. they might produce one half decent season and then say "sayonara." Who can fathom the workings of the oriental mind?
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
If that is the case McLarenfan, then you have horrible luck, possum.