Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

All that has to do with the power train, gearbox, clutch, fuels and lubricants, etc. Generally the mechanical side of Formula One.
vorticism
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Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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AR3-GP wrote:
15 Jan 2026, 18:41
vorticism wrote:
15 Jan 2026, 18:26
The rules are set up to accommodate placement of the MGUK & its transmission in a variety of locations with no weight penalty for more distal locating. In front of the ICE or alongside the ICE (previous precedent). diffuser pointed out the transmission attachment point which encourages forward placements. Inside the vee would be elegant, if just for symmetry & structural efficiency--replacing the MGUH.
Inside the V would increase the center of mass height quite a bit. Either in front of engine or inside the transmission (somehow) seems ideal.

https://i.postimg.cc/GpRZcD2g/image.png
Yes, hence my earlier post. PU COG is mandated so the COG of the assembled mass is the is the goal not necessarily the locations of individual components considered independently. Vee or forward centerline locating, whether atop or splitting the ES, provides symmetry, which frees up space on both sides of the ICE beneath the exhaust ports for airflow or header routing. Rearward MGUK locating (if the legality box allows for it) would require a long driveshaft back to the front of the engine.
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diffuser
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Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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vorticism wrote:
15 Jan 2026, 19:05
AR3-GP wrote:
15 Jan 2026, 18:41
vorticism wrote:
15 Jan 2026, 18:26
The rules are set up to accommodate placement of the MGUK & its transmission in a variety of locations with no weight penalty for more distal locating. In front of the ICE or alongside the ICE (previous precedent). diffuser pointed out the transmission attachment point which encourages forward placements. Inside the vee would be elegant, if just for symmetry & structural efficiency--replacing the MGUH.
Inside the V would increase the center of mass height quite a bit. Either in front of engine or inside the transmission (somehow) seems ideal.

https://i.postimg.cc/GpRZcD2g/image.png
Yes, hence my earlier post. PU COG is mandated so the COG of the assembled mass is the is the goal not necessarily the locations of individual components considered independently. Vee or forward centerline locating, whether atop or splitting the ES, provides symmetry, which frees up space on both sides of the ICE beneath the exhaust ports for airflow or header routing. Rearward MGUK locating (if the legality box allows for it) would require a long driveshaft back to the front of the engine.
You only have 100MM of space there before it start protrude out the front, not sure that's enough space for the MGU-K. That's gonna be prime Fuel cell real estate there.

vorticism
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Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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diffuser wrote:
15 Jan 2026, 20:01
vorticism wrote:
15 Jan 2026, 19:05
AR3-GP wrote:
15 Jan 2026, 18:41


Inside the V would increase the center of mass height quite a bit. Either in front of engine or inside the transmission (somehow) seems ideal.

https://i.postimg.cc/GpRZcD2g/image.png
Yes, hence my earlier post. PU COG is mandated so the COG of the assembled mass is the is the goal not necessarily the locations of individual components considered independently. Vee or forward centerline locating, whether atop or splitting the ES, provides symmetry, which frees up space on both sides of the ICE beneath the exhaust ports for airflow or header routing. Rearward MGUK locating (if the legality box allows for it) would require a long driveshaft back to the front of the engine.
You only have 100MM of space there before it start protrude out the front, not sure that's enough space for the MGU-K. That's gonna be prime Fuel cell real estate there.
No, this is only a reference to the mechanical connection area. They want to continue using the nose of the crankshaft as the connection point, driven alongside the cam gears, hence it must be within the first 100mm of the ICE volume. There's no rules about where specifically within the PU volume that the MGUK needs to be placed (that I've seen). This why C18.5.7 exists--to provide the freedom of placement for packaging reasons with limited mass penalty. Hugging it right next to the ICE vs hanging it from the front of the ICE vs attaching it to the monocoque, etc., are all accommodated as teams/builder may find certain configurations more advantageous than others.
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AR3-GP
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Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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This shows where battery is located relative to engine. Based on Honda's teaser photos, it will be a side mount MGU-K

Image
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diffuser
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Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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AR3-GP wrote:
15 Jan 2026, 21:15
This shows where battery is located relative to engine. Based on Honda's teaser photos, it will be a side mount MGU-K

https://i.redd.it/dalug3bq068g1.jpeg
Well, it makes sense. Being that it delivers significantly more power than 2025's, it will likely have more windings and therefore more weight. Having all the weight as low as possible helps.

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Juzh
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Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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Again the race is saying honda is behind in battery tech (at 3:43). That's now at least the second time they've mentioned it. Personally I don't buy it at all. How could they possibly know this.

mzso
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Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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Juzh wrote:
17 Jan 2026, 16:22
Again the race is saying honda is behind in battery tech (at 3:43). That's now at least the second time they've mentioned it. Personally I don't buy it at all. How could they possibly know this.
They also said the power units became 35kg heavier...

Hoffman900
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Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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Juzh wrote:
17 Jan 2026, 16:22
Again the race is saying honda is behind in battery tech (at 3:43). That's now at least the second time they've mentioned it. Personally I don't buy it at all. How could they possibly know this.
They don’t. By saying that, they know people will click to find out.

They sell views, not information

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diffuser
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Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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Hoffman900 wrote:
17 Jan 2026, 16:47
Juzh wrote:
17 Jan 2026, 16:22
Again the race is saying honda is behind in battery tech (at 3:43). That's now at least the second time they've mentioned it. Personally I don't buy it at all. How could they possibly know this.
They don’t. By saying that, they know people will click to find out.

They sell views, not information
100% agree, click bate but I can't tell you my source or he'll get fired! ;)

Bill
Bill
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Joined: 28 Apr 2018, 10:28

Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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Hoffman900 wrote:
17 Jan 2026, 16:47
Juzh wrote:
17 Jan 2026, 16:22
Again the race is saying honda is behind in battery tech (at 3:43). That's now at least the second time they've mentioned it. Personally I don't buy it at all. How could they possibly know this.
They don’t. By saying that, they know people will click to find out.

They sell views, not information
Redbull powerunit head think the battle front will be on the engine side he expect all manufacturers to be 99 percent efficient on the electrical side. Honda started their project by focusing on small light efficient motor and batteries for them they believe that's were the advantage will be.Honda are the only manufacturer who has raced with synthetic fuels via their indy program. Aramco and shell are the only ones with vast racing experience with these fuels,so if the the race want start a romour they need to say something believable because wanatabe has gone on record and say they have a great batteries so do these media people know better than Honda chief.Apprantly Redbull thinks talks of merc incoming dominance where started by merc themselves.

Hoffman900
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Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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Indy doesn’t run synthetic fuel, they run ethanol.

IMSA / WEC runs synthetic fuel, and they all have experience with oil dilution from it in the 24hr races.

Bill
Bill
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Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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Hoffman900 wrote:
18 Jan 2026, 20:32
Indy doesn’t run synthetic fuel, they run ethanol.

IMSA / WEC runs synthetic fuel, and they all have experience with oil dilution from it in the 24hr races.
Its the same thing you can run on efuels or biofuels the difference is sattle. Ferrari will run on biofuels the majority will run on efuels.sythetic in these context just mean it's not petrol it's man-made fuel.

Snorked
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Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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Last edited by Snorked on 20 Jan 2026, 07:19, edited 1 time in total.

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Ashwinv16
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Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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what's the two things sticking out....? I thought it was twin throttle body set-up but like since like eons f1 cars where always individual throlle trumpets wasn't it?
Halo not as bad as we thought

muzzytt
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Joined: 04 Jan 2012, 06:26

Re: Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

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They look like pop off valves there's a few sensors on it so who knows