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Honda has set the minimum target of overtaking rival engine maker Renault in 2018. After three abysmal years with the Japanese supplier, McLaren has dumped Honda and will next year swap engine deals with the currently Renault-powered Toro Rosso.
Since 2015, Honda's has been clearly the slowest engine on the grid, but boss Yusuke Hasegawa insisted: "I think we're reducing the gap, even if we are not close enough yet. "Obviously we hope to do more over the winter," he is quoted by El Mundo Deportivo.
"We must definitely reach Renault and overtake them" in 2018, the Japanese added. "Our goal for 2018 is to go beyond overtaking Renault, even if we do not want to reveal our plans right now," said Hasegawa. (GMM)
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
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Replies (10)
Login to replyBarron
Posts: 625
What a shock! I was quite startled by that revelation. Whatever next...
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I think and hope they can. Will hardly clench my fists in eager for next year, but I will be all the more happy if they do beat Renault in terms of reliability and power.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
Honda! Shut the f**k up! Haven't they learned anything the last 3 years? Every pre-season they've come out guns blazing, only to disappoint in a major way.
Personally I hope that they do end up overtaking Renault, but why this constant need to cry wolf? What purpose does it serve besides looking ridiculous?
The thing is, next season is gonna be a "free" season anyway, as most people aren't expecting much because of the Toro Rosso chassis, why set yourself up for failure then? Realistically speaking, the only people they need to impress next year is the Red Bull brass, that's basically it.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
But do they do? All they are saying here is basically that they want to beat Renault. Wouldnt exactly rate that as a Ron Dennis on the hype scale.
mbmwe36
Posts: 533
"Our goal for 2018 is to go beyond overtaking Renault, even if we do not want to reveal our plans right now,"
All I'm saying is, what purpose does that statement really serve?
And how will it realistically be measured? Does it mean that Toro Rosso will have to beat Renault? Is it just a matter of pundits agreeing that they've surpassed Renault?
Of course it doesn't register on the Ron Dennis hyperbole scale (R), but still...
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Well, that bit I agree on is unnecessary, but the gist of it is that they want to catch up with Merc and Ferrari. Hardly a secret, doesnt both Renault and Honda want that? But yeah, unnecessary. My guess is that this is Hasegawa saying Honda is committed and stuff. My guess is that Toro Rosso wont be able to challenge works Renault, but as long as Honda get better straight line speed than the Renault teams, they'll be happy.
samuelw
Posts: 21
honda still want to beat there 2004 honda. you know the one that worked :)
f1ski
Posts: 726
Toro Rosso has all the data the Honda engineers need. They can now go and reverse engineer a power plant.
Barron
Posts: 625
What, a copy a Renault? Aren’t Honda in enough crap? The only people to get to see the inside of a Renault, is, Renault. Unless someone defects with a full set of plans, reverse engineering by looking at the outside is impossible. It’s the same for every power unit supplier.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I agree with Barron. The amount of data TR can share is limited. Alk they can share is info such as top speed, acceleration, electric function. But thats pretty much it, and it wont help Honda much.