Tetsuo Tsugawa
When one talks with Tetsuo Tsugawa, the overall perception of Formula 1 changes completely. Very few will sound his name outside of Formula 1, but it is someone unmistakable. First, because at almost 70 years old he has a ponytail that gives him a certain aspect of an old rocker. And second, because because it uncovers like few the two hemispheres of F1: the rational and the emotive. Tell someone who stood in London without money (and without English) and ended up working in the elite of world mechanics. Before working at Benetton (now Renault), he went through several teams. In one of them, it almost reaches hands with Ayrton Senna ...
"I worked for a year with Senna, in 1984 -their debut year- with the Toleman team, it was very good, but with an excessive ego, I wanted to do everything for him." One day, around two or three in the morning, he appeared and he told us: 'come, change this, do this, do the other thing ...' But we could not! We were mechanics! Impossible without asking the engineers for permission ... He wanted us to change the set-up of the car ... And We fought each other, we faced each other, and he started screaming at me saying: '' ---, we have to win! " It happened in Brazil in 1984. His first race in F1 ...
Have McLaren and Alonso been wrong?
So, the Renault engine will not give you better results than the 2018 Honda? Tsugawa answers
'yes' based on his understanding of Honda's situation, both by direct contact with them and by engine technique. And it is true that there is still a crisis to solve, but if Honda still has several "headaches", the hangover may begin to pass in 2018. There is the question: what if Alonso (and McLaren) have cut the tree when Was it about to pay off?
"Up until now, a big problem with Honda has been the MGU-H - thermal engine - that's their big headache, it does not have enough power, and if they force it 100%, it breaks down. I had to stop the whole race, but if they did everything right, I would have more or less the same power as Renault, because their combustion engine is good ... " Perhaps it is true, and Tetsuo points to a key factor to understand 2017 and what will come further.
"2015 and 2016 have been two years in the trash, and they have left very expensive, this year's engine is almost 100% new." But it's good?
"The base itself is promising, they are already close to the Top 10. And that is as if they were just starting." In this logic frames a 2018 even between Renault and Honda. And maybe the French are those who have already marked their glass ceiling with these engines. The Honda thing is yet to be seen. Hence, Alonso may not win with all this divorce ...
"Renault had been developing the same combustion engine for several years, and when they added the hybrid part in 2014, they did not fit at all," recalls Tetsuo.
"To be really their 'first year' in F1, what we see in this second half of Honda's season is not being equally bad, they need to adjust the electronics, and even if Red Bull is there, how many problems has Renault had? this year?". The last test of Mexico illustrates the scheme well: victory of Verstappen with Renault engine ... but three breakdowns of the same engine in demanding conditions for power. What happens with McLaren in 2018 is still uncertain.
The same goes for Honda, but with certain nuances. Starting with how he has gone from chaos to a structure that is designed to be competitive in the short term.
"In 2015 and 2016, Honda did not have a clear concept of the engine," says Tetsuo.
"It was a lack of absolute understanding about F1, they were told to work with McLaren and them, 'well, for that reason.'" Then they took people from the factory who did not work in F1, but in business and mechanics.
They said: You go to F1 now, okay? And they all nodded, because as they had the technology, they thought that with that they were going to throw away. " In the third year, they have returned to the starting square, but maybe this time to move forward.
"They did it on a blank page and they failed in everything," says Tetsuo.
"And it's true that Honda has a lot of technology and resources, but they did not know how to apply it to F1, now they have it organized, there is a way." The question, for now, is to wait for it to work.
"Their people are quite young and I know they are motivated, there is a strategy, and next year it will be better, and it is a pity that there are only two years left with this type of engine, because although they will not reach Mercedes and Ferrari, the story will be different. " Because if Honda solves those electrical problems, perhaps McLaren will remember for years of his decision.
"Honda is not good, but McLaren ..."
But why has Honda never communicated this so clearly? McLaren won by winning the battle of communication, also protected by its good chassis.
"In Japan there's always a step back, you never speak forcefully like in Europe, your style is more: 'I can do this and I'll get it yes or yes.' Our culture is different, we always take a step back on these issues." For culture, Honda assumed a low profile, mainly for the bad ... but sometimes for the good too. And yes, this also existed.
"How many times have you heard Honda say something against McLaren and Alonso? Not one, not one!" Tetsuo asks, raising his tone. In light of the engine crisis, understandable. But not everything was there.
"McLaren has had a lot of problems in the gearbox, and that's also the engine, or what's wrong, it's Honda's fault, and some bad pit stops at McLaren, or when there was a water leak, they always accused Honda unknowingly knew that it was theirs, when there was an electrical problem, they also blamed Honda, but then it turned out that their connector had been turned off ... What, also a Honda problem, right?
"We knew all this but we never said it, and neither did Honda," Tetsuo confesses,
"and although they are not so far from Renault being their 'first year', they will not say anything either." Alonso always says that the chassis is terrific and the very bad engine, but look at Spa and Monza, two circuits with straight lines, Red Bull has a very flat rear wing, like a bread, it does not generate any resistance to air, and what about the giant rear wing of McLaren? The car will be all the good you want, yes, because it generates a lot of downforce, but with that spoiler ...
The engine would not be perfect, but are you looking for power with that? He --- us!
I'm not saying that Honda is good, but there's a lot of hidden issue in this matter ... "
A second factor is added to the supposed potential of this engine.
"With Toro Rosso, Honda will not have so much pressure, they will not be so questioned, it will be quieter, they will work for them, period." Just when Hasegawa said he was looking to "be friends" with Toro Rosso, and not "partners" like McLaren. And if all goes well, Red Bull in 2019? "If Honda goes well, they will get their engine, yes, it's natural ..." Thinking about a competitive Honda may not be unreasonable, especially because the 2021 engines will take one piece off: the MGU-H. The one with the "headaches" ... What happens if Tetsuo ends up being right?
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