Honda - another disaster ?

Honda - another disaster ?

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Discussion

MartG

Original Poster:

20,621 posts

203 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
quotequote all
Honda say their new engine concept is 'high risk' - sounds like they are preparing the ground for another dismal year frown

http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/honda-admits-new...

I'd love to see them do well though

paolow

3,208 posts

257 months

Tuesday 14th February 2017
quotequote all
You can read a lot into that article I suppose.

If what I read is true, and Honda are traditionally quite conservative in designs and implementation they may have realised that wont work in F1 and a more 'think outside the box; strategy is required.

They are saying they have found gains - but its moved them a little into unknown territory - so potentially some innovation rather than renovation? They may stumble with that approach - but F1 is all about innovation and they will never achieve anything unless they try new ideas - and this is presumably what they are doing and the only way to beat the best.

Perhaps I am being over optimistic - but I cannot believe with all the lead up they are saying "weve made something - and are not too sure about what it will / can do - but we hope it at least makes a few slow laps without grenading - that was embarassing"

Oh - also - dont forget we will see the new cars next week - or at least the new liveries on last years cars with pretend front and rear wings - that should be something interesting to see if there are any surprises in store...



Edited by paolow on Tuesday 14th February 18:50

DanielSan

18,745 posts

166 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
If they can release a new donkey that makes power but is unreliable that can be easily fixed, the other way round will be trickier with the development restrictions

Dakkon

7,826 posts

252 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
Lets be honest it can't get any worse, so taking a few risks is sensible. At the end of the day if McLaren don't start to do well this season and attract a title sponsor this year to start sponsoring from 2018 they are in serious trouble.

Flooble

5,565 posts

99 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
It's an unusual press release - suggests they already know things are really really bad.

But as the saying goes, it's easier to make a fast car reliable than a reliable car fast.

Dr Murdoch

3,427 posts

134 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
DanielSan said:
will be trickier with the development restrictions
I didn't think they had restrictions this year? Or did I just dream that?

Vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
Dr Murdoch said:
I didn't think they had restrictions this year? Or did I just dream that?
The token system has been abolished.

HarryFlatters

4,203 posts

211 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
Vaud said:
Dr Murdoch said:
I didn't think they had restrictions this year? Or did I just dream that?
The token system has been abolished.
But they still have only 4 engines for the year, so any updates have to be released to coincide with those, otherwise they get grid penalties for going over their allocation.

Vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
HarryFlatters said:
But they still have only 4 engines for the year, so any updates have to be released to coincide with those, otherwise they get grid penalties for going over their allocation.
But I'm guessing that might still be worth doing if you can bring enough of an upgrade?

untakenname

4,953 posts

191 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all

Vocal Minority

8,582 posts

151 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
I guess you never know.

I don't think it screams 'we're st, and we know we are' like some have decided it does.

A lot also depends on the questions asked by the journalist, who then edits the responses into sentences.

It certainly sounds like certain aspects work on paper, but aren't thoroughly tested

glazbagun

14,257 posts

196 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
If anything, I'd say there previous engine was the High Risk one: look at what everyone else was doing. Do something noone else was doing. Cross fingers that everyone else just got it wrong... Then drive around with an underpowered grenade in the back of the car for a year.

Vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Wednesday 15th February 2017
quotequote all
I guess the high risk is that the new architecture is 3-5 years behind everyone else... so maybe the right design, but lots of gremlins ahead?

That said, who knows how much bench time they have already put in?

lee_fr200

5,475 posts

189 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
quotequote all
I seriously hope they're just trolling everyone! I'm sure the new engine will be more powerful than the last

You never know they might be st the front of the grid let's hope so

thebigmacmoomin

2,796 posts

168 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
quotequote all
All they are doing is getting their excuses in early for producing yet another dog on an engine for McLaren.

IforB

9,840 posts

228 months

Thursday 16th February 2017
quotequote all
untakenname said:
That sounds like a bag of spanners, thiugh so do most race engines at low RPM, which begs the question of why release an audio clip of something so dreadful? A few throttle blips would have made the world of difference rather than sounding like a bag of gravel in a high speed cement mixer.

MartG

Original Poster:

20,621 posts

203 months

Sunday 19th February 2017
quotequote all
Looks a bit radical ! jester


perdu

4,884 posts

198 months

Tuesday 21st February 2017
quotequote all
I think they'll have difficulty with some of the track limits but that's really radical

I likey

LDN

8,905 posts

202 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2017
quotequote all
MartG said:
Looks a bit radical ! jester

Ha! Straight out of Star Wars

thegreenhell

15,110 posts

218 months

Saturday 25th February 2017
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Honda are now saying that by the first race of this season they will be up to the performance of the 2016 Mercedes. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/honda-says-new-...

Unfortunately, Mercedes say they have improved in every single area for 2017. https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-says-e...