Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

[dren]

Recent article has Hasegawa stating current spec power output is basically where they wanted to be at the start of the season.

http://www.racer.com/f1/item/143033-hon ... nce-target

[Joseki]

So they are presumably 15-20 hp behind Mercedes 2016 and maybe 55-60 hp behind the current leaders, but it does seem a bit optimistic to me.

[godlameroso]

Apparently the next update should bring that extra 10-15hp, I'm more interested in the October update though, if it even materializes. Getting the gap under a second this season would be a huge achievement for McLaren and Honda, it would put them in a decent position for next year.

[Joseki]

A big update will also make the sponsors and Fernando happier, and I also think that Honda's board is starting to expect results soon.

[63l8qrrfy6]

I think if they manage to do well at Spa and Monza with no DNFs or grid penalties they are on the right path.

That as well as a few more points would be proof of real, tangible progress.

[Joseki]

Grid penalties are a given, they will have new units and maybe use both races to stockpile elements.

[gofast182]

Grid penalties are a given, they will have new units and maybe use both races to stockpile elements.

Agreed and going through that pain at the most strategic time is a good approach because, unfortunately, there is no way to avoid penalties as they implement the last Spec. 3 changes and eventually Spec. 4. To the extent people's memories are short (and many casual fans/observers/social media pundits do have short memories) if they can end the season on a high note it will do wonders for McLaren Honda considering where they started.

[dren]

Grid penalties are a given, they will have new units and maybe use both races to stockpile elements.

Agreed and going through that pain at the most strategic time is a good approach because, unfortunately, there is no way to avoid penalties as they implement the last Spec. 3 changes and eventually Spec. 4. To the extent people's memories are short (and many casual fans/observers/social media pundits do have short memories) if they can end the season on a high note it will do wonders for McLaren Honda considering where they started.

If Honda can show they have improved the reliability, that will be a big boost going into next year. The focus can be entirely on performance updates. Something to note, Mclaren has finished more racing laps this year than Red Bull to date.

[daverdfw]

Grid penalties are a given, they will have new units and maybe use both races to stockpile elements.

Agreed and going through that pain at the most strategic time is a good approach because, unfortunately, there is no way to avoid penalties as they implement the last Spec. 3 changes and eventually Spec. 4. To the extent people's memories are short (and many casual fans/observers/social media pundits do have short memories) if they can end the season on a high note it will do wonders for McLaren Honda considering where they started.

If Honda can show they have improved the reliability, that will be a big boost going into next year. The focus can be entirely on performance updates. Something to note, Mclaren has finished more racing laps this year than Red Bull to date.

pretty sure RedBull has lost more laps because of Verstappen than reliability issues.

[MrPotatoHead]

Agreed and going through that pain at the most strategic time is a good approach because, unfortunately, there is no way to avoid penalties as they implement the last Spec. 3 changes and eventually Spec. 4. To the extent people's memories are short (and many casual fans/observers/social media pundits do have short memories) if they can end the season on a high note it will do wonders for McLaren Honda considering where they started.

If Honda can show they have improved the reliability, that will be a big boost going into next year. The focus can be entirely on performance updates. Something to note, Mclaren has finished more racing laps this year than Red Bull to date.

pretty sure RedBull has lost more laps because of Verstappen than reliability issues.

Sad but true!

[63l8qrrfy6]

Grid penalties are a given, they will have new units and maybe use both races to stockpile elements.

Surely they won't have to pull another 'strategic penalty' in the next couple races ? They've only just done it at Silverstone.

[Peter1919]

Grid penalties are a given, they will have new units and maybe use both races to stockpile elements.

My understanding is that the rules were changed for this season so you can't take multiple penalties in one race in order to stockpile elements the way Lewis did last season. So they can change each component only once barring a failure of the second component.

[dren]

Agreed and going through that pain at the most strategic time is a good approach because, unfortunately, there is no way to avoid penalties as they implement the last Spec. 3 changes and eventually Spec. 4. To the extent people's memories are short (and many casual fans/observers/social media pundits do have short memories) if they can end the season on a high note it will do wonders for McLaren Honda considering where they started.

If Honda can show they have improved the reliability, that will be a big boost going into next year. The focus can be entirely on performance updates. Something to note, Mclaren has finished more racing laps this year than Red Bull to date.

pretty sure RedBull has lost more laps because of Verstappen than reliability issues.

Unreliable driver

[taperoo2k]

Grid penalties are a given, they will have new units and maybe use both races to stockpile elements.

Surely they won't have to pull another 'strategic penalty' in the next couple races ? They've only just done it at Silverstone.

If it's new parts then yes they will take penalties now, so they are in good shape to have a crack at scoring more points before the end of the season.

[godlameroso]

I don't think it matters to them much any more this season, they want to win, and they have at the very least a chassis capable of doing so. More important is to get the power unit up to a decent level, so if they have to take penalties so be it. It's much easier to score points from the back of the grid with a much faster car, than it is to start from near the back of the grid with a mediocre car(except at places where it's impossible to pass).