Wolff: Honda's engine 'certainly looks very powerful'
- Published on 14 Jan 2019 09:19
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff says that the Honda engine looks 'very powerful' ahead of the Japanese manufacturer's first season with Red Bull Racing. Red Bull opted to end its long-standing partnership with Renault in the face of poor results.
Honda spent the 2018 season with its junior outfit, Toro Rosso. In a somewhat successful year, it scored a fourth-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix - Honda's best result since it returned to F1 in 2015 with McLaren.
While Honda is steadily improving, Wolff believes that the biggest change will come from the new aerodynamic regulations that will be enforced this year, including simpler front wings, revised bargeboards and steeper, higher rear wings.
"Yeah it could well be because we have seen there is no more pattern any more. There is not one team that dominates one kind of circuit. It has changed and Honda’s engine certainly looks very powerful now.
"But I think that the biggest impact will be the completely new aerodynamic regulations. That will change everything upside down. Somebody might find a loophole or a regulation or understand how these cars work earlier than others so I think there is a big, big variable in those new regulations. We will have teams right up there that are not on the radar today."
Mercedes enter the 2019 season on the back of five consecutive world championships. The Silver Arrows has not yet announced when it will launch its latest challenge, while rivals Ferrari will unveil their car on February 15th.
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Replies (11)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Oh Toto, youjust keep trying to fondle our downparts, telling us sweet tales so that any potential slaps will hurt all the more.
Rindtchamp
Posts: 304
Yes, I stopped believing anything he says long long ago.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
lol the man just can't say anything that pleases you even when he's complimenting your beloved Jap manufacturer I can't wait for the 2019 season. It's certainly shaped up to be more interesting than 2018 at this point.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
And with good reason. Personal bias aside, I think its safe to say that he isnt really an all that reliable source of info on where his rivals are. "Oh, Renault has totally caught up for 2017"... Sikes, they havent.. "Oh, woe me, our engine for 2018 is a mess, Ferrari will be all over us now" Sikes, they were equal! "Oh Honda is all over our asses now", Sikes there is no way for him to know, unless he has spies in Honda's BoO, which is illegal (though I wouldnt put that beneath him... Sorry, going snarky again!)! If the glorious Nippon master race does well next year great, but he is surely bullshitting if he claim to personally know how that PU is shaping up right now.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
Give us some races fast! Oh Calle, as the off season wears on your comments get more and more rambunctious, to the entertainment of us all. ;)
Coventry Climax
Posts: 624
I'm with the group that deem him unreliable, but where in this article does he claim to know about Honda's power? It clearly says he believes the biggest impact will be from aerodynamics. It's the article's title that is misleading the most here.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
"and Honda’s engine certainly looks very powerful now."
Coventry Climax
Posts: 624
@calle.itw: 'know about' is not the same as 'looks very'
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
It is however implied knowledge, and the key is the phrasing.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
I don't know what Toto can see that others can't but surely he has more insight into Honda's engine than the average or even above average fan. That being said, I hope he is correct that with the new formula and Honda's new 2019 spec we will see some more unpredictable races. My gut tells me that may be the case as even with the 2018 specs we saw a few races where the back markers pulled off some good races.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
You also have to take into account that what we get to read on this site sometimes is subject to, let's just say creative editing and interpretative journalism that might not always be representative of what was actually being said.