Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

[Roostfactor]

That's right. Formula 1 mentally is aim high fall high. Aiming for 50% would be defeatist when Mercedes are aiming for 55!

I think Honda is keeping the compressor in the Vee, or using the Mercedes design for 2017. Normal engineering development you tend to stick with what you have mastered and that knowledge of operating the compressor and that long shaft in the small confines of the Vee in all that heat, will go a very long way for next year. They won't throw that knowledge away that is for sure.

I am not even worried about the engine layout. I actually think Ferrari has the most peak power now.. almost too much power for Kimi and Seb at times... that i feel the key is in the combustion and energy management. This is what I am hoping Honda gets right. It's not just about adopting a new combustion technology, ala Ferrari then Renault, it is about mastering it and being the best at it within a short space of time!

Agreed, but the Merc tc shaft must be much longer than anything Honda has used in 2016. It would'nt seem too difficult to incorporate a "mid shaft bearing" to support the shaft. It could be cast into the top of the block with internal oil passages for lubrication.

That extra peak power you are speculating about with Ferrari may not be of the most benefit now but with the chassis changes for 2017 it could play a big factor! Interesting times ahead for sure!

[GoranF1]

After seeing how bad we are in FP...i cant wait for that Wazari post GP post!!!

[godlameroso]

Wasn't too bad, 7th to 12th is covered by .4 seconds, the race pace was there, 1:47's same as FI, and Williams, but McLaren is better under braking and makes the tires last longer than either of those two. Alonso can have a decent race if he doesn't get stuck behind others.

[PlatinumZealot]

1.5 seconds down on Mercedes at abu dhabi. Better than 2.6 seconds down. Safe to assume the engine is 1.5 seconds faster than last years?? (assuming mercedes 0.5 engine and chassis improvement)

[mrluke]

I would wait till after qualy to make any assessment of pace, teams are running too many different programme / fuel loads etc.

[Pierce89]

1.5 seconds down on Mercedes at abu dhabi. Better than 2.6 seconds down. Safe to assume the engine is 1.5 seconds faster than last years?? (assuming mercedes 0.5 engine and chassis improvement)

Merc improved more than that. Look at pole laps vs last year.

[davidfroshanzen]

After seeing how bad we are in FP...i cant wait for that Wazari post GP post!!!

After seeing qualification we are 5th best car in the grid fellas... =D>

[PlatinumZealot]

1.5 seconds down on Mercedes at abu dhabi. Better than 2.6 seconds down. Safe to assume the engine is 1.5 seconds faster than last years?? (assuming mercedes 0.5 engine and chassis improvement)

Merc improved more than that. Look at pole laps vs last year.

Tyres one step softer this year for some tracks. Other tracks the cars were not that much faster.

[RedNEO]

Honda doesn't have the magic q3 button. Alonso already hit the peak of the potential in q2 and only got through to q3 beating both williams on being Alonso alone, speed trap figures showed we were down on Williams. It's a shame that we hit the ceiling on this engine pretty early on but hopefully they've learnt a lot of things for next year.

[Andres125sx]

It's a shame that we hit the ceiling on this engine pretty early on

Ceiling?? You must be kidding, the PU have so much margin for improvement it must be difficult for engineers to choose the route for development.

If it did not improve anymore lately it´s only due to the token restriction wich does not allow manufacturers to develop their products, not because the PU reached its ceiling. Not even Mercedes reached the ceiling yet with this new engine formula, let alone Honda...

[Pierce89]

1.5 seconds down on Mercedes at abu dhabi. Better than 2.6 seconds down. Safe to assume the engine is 1.5 seconds faster than last years?? (assuming mercedes 0.5 engine and chassis improvement)

Merc improved more than that. Look at pole laps vs last year.

Tyres one step softer this year for some tracks. Other tracks the cars were not that much faster.

The drivers have all said that the US isn't much faster than the SS, so I'll still say Merc improved more than .5secs/lap.

[RedNEO]

It's a shame that we hit the ceiling on this engine pretty early on

Ceiling?? You must be kidding, the PU have so much margin for improvement it must be difficult for engineers to choose the route for development.

If it did not improve anymore lately it´s only due to the token restriction wich does not allow manufacturers to develop their products, not because the PU reached its ceiling. Not even Mercedes reached the ceiling yet with this new engine formula, let alone Honda...

That's what I meant sorry, but it was the layout of this engine that made it difficult to find bigger gains with the tokens available. If there was no tokens this engine would be practically brand new if they could change everything as there doing next year.

[Brian Coat]

I was unsurprised to see Hasegaea quoted as saying Honda still does not have enough MGU output to run K throughout the lap on all circuits (interview in latest RET).

But I was surprised to see him quoted as saying they do not need a "huge" MGU-H capacity like 90 kW (suggested by RET as likely to be Merc's level).

Do people think (1) Hasegawa-San is bluffing, or (2) Honda has not figured out all the race-day strategies and their electrical demands, or (3) you really don't need ~90kW?

[PlatinumZealot]

I will believe him. I would go with option 3. Their generation and deployment was pretty good this year. I would assume if Mercedes is 100% Honda would be no worse than 90-%95% . By the fact that Mr. Hasegawa described 90kW as huge means that, the actual number of Mercedes' MGUh electrical generation is even much lower and that 90kW figure was invented by onlookers.

[Juzh]

No one has 100% deployment yet. Not even mercedes. Far from it.