Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

[Wazari]

Would this be your spec 4.0 PU or evolution of "too many cooks" current concept?

To the best of my knowledge is that it would be evolution of current layout, not concept, which would contain approximately 80-90% components and concept of "Spec 4.XXX" plus updates.

[Dimi]

The connection between the post-filter intake and the electronics box atop the intake manifold--is this an intake sensor (pressure, flow, temp), or a cooling channel?

That "Honda" box looks more like a part of the crankcase ventilation system.No??

[Andres125sx]

There's nothing to suggest Mercedes won't take another clear step forward. This is a 5 year project, Honda is just entering year 4. The power unit evolves by the hands of humans, thus it is imbued with certain lifelike qualities, much like humans go through a big change after adolescence after a long slow period of development, so too will this power unit go though a significant step forward. No hope involved, just understanding how things evolve, Honda will surprise people next year, and if TR is allowed to develop the chassis they will be strong.

Nice post. All manufacturers will take a step forward, that's obvious. However there is a law of diminishing returns. Mercedes' gains should be incrementally smaller.

When? In 2020?

Next will be 5th season of a completely new ruleset with extremelly complex PUs, so I sincerely don´t expect Mercedes to reach the diminishing return point yet. Well, it depends on how do you define diminishing return point but you just need to look at manufacturers learning curve to notice all of them are still improving significantly. Not as much as 2nd or 3th season obviously, but still significant improvements.

Look at Renault, still learning how to build a proper PU with decent reliability when they´re in this era since the beginning, that´s showing how far they´re from the diminishing return point IMHO

[HPD]

Nice post. All manufacturers will take a step forward, that's obvious. However there is a law of diminishing returns. Mercedes' gains should be incrementally smaller.

When? In 2020?
Not as much as 2nd or 3th season obviously, but still significant improvements.

You just answered yourself.
2017 was the first season of this new engine concept.

To the best of my knowledge is that it would be evolution of current layout, not concept, which would contain approximately 80-90% components and concept of "Spec 4.XXX" plus updates.

Wazari, now that the season is over. Can you give us some figures about the difference in performance of the current 3.8 and 4.0 specifications?
Hasegawa always wanted to introduce the 4.0 in 2017, and "catch" Renault.

[PlatinumZealot]

The green actuators, could be motors with a power-screw drive.

I doubt they are electric, but your post makes me think that if the actuator is rotary rather than linear, it could be rotating a threaded control rod rather than simply push-pulling the intake stacks into positions. As such, travel within the manifold would not relate to the length of the actuator body visible in the photo.

That is what a power screw is.

[Andres125sx]

Nice post. All manufacturers will take a step forward, that's obvious. However there is a law of diminishing returns. Mercedes' gains should be incrementally smaller.

When? In 2020?
Not as much as 2nd or 3th season obviously, but still significant improvements.

You just answered yourself.
2017 was the first season of this new engine concept.

But not the first season of the project, so don´t try to show it as if Honda is on their first season while Mercedes is on their 5th, it´s 4th vs 5th, or 4th vs 6th if you want, assuming Mercedes started much earlier than first season of these ruleset, but even so the difference is not that dramatic

[GhostF1]

When? In 2020?
Not as much as 2nd or 3th season obviously, but still significant improvements.

You just answered yourself.
2017 was the first season of this new engine concept.

But not the first season of the project, so don´t try to show it as if Honda is on their first season while Mercedes is on their 5th, it´s 4th vs 5th, or 4th vs 6th if you want, assuming Mercedes started much earlier than first season of these ruleset, but even so the difference is not that dramatic

No one is saying that, but what is a fact is that 2017 was the first year with this layout/concept.
What the last 3 years have given Honda is experience in F1 racing again. So in that respect, yes they will be entering their 4th active year.
Engine wise. And on track development. Realistically 2018 will be year 2

[dren]

No one is saying that, but what is a fact is that 2017 was the first year with this layout/concept.
What the last 3 years have given Honda is experience in F1 racing again. So in that respect, yes they will be entering their 4th active year.
Engine wise. And on track development. Realistically 2018 will be year 2

I understand this argument being used for reliability concerns since Mercedes stated it took them awhile to get the split turbo concept working, but for performance, Honda has had 3 years.

It took the bulk of the season to sort out the MGUH bearing failures.

[GhostF1]

No one is saying that, but what is a fact is that 2017 was the first year with this layout/concept.
What the last 3 years have given Honda is experience in F1 racing again. So in that respect, yes they will be entering their 4th active year.
Engine wise. And on track development. Realistically 2018 will be year 2

I understand this argument being used for reliability concerns since Mercedes stated it took them awhile to get the split turbo concept working, but for performance, Honda has had 3 years.

It took the bulk of the season to sort out the MGUH bearing failures.

I agree but notice how the main issue that plagued the PU in the past year was pretty much focused solely on the MGU-H shaft?

Guess what was brand new in concept and design for this year...

It's obvious they were having first year experience growing pains with that part.

[Brake Horse Power]

Casted parts also to reduce vibrations?

[Craigy]

Casted parts also to reduce vibrations?

By which means are you talking?

[NL_Fer]

At the moment Mercedes’ biggest gain is knowledge and finetuning it’s current spec. They already reached their sweet spot and can make gains from knowing how far they can push each part of the PU.

Mario Illien said in the latest interview, that the turbo/mgu-h has to be redesigned for every little change in combustion concept. Mercedes, has no changes, just finetuning.

Their Q3 magic comes from exactly knowing how far they can push for each lap.

[Wazari]

Wazari, now that the season is over. Can you give us some figures about the difference in performance of the current 3.8 and 4.0 specifications?
Hasegawa always wanted to introduce the 4.0 in 2017, and "catch" Renault.

25 to 30 kW.

[carisi2k]

How much more effective is the ers-h on the 4.0 vs 3.8?
How much more fuel efficient is 4.0 over 3.8?

[Singabule]

Wazari, now that the season is over. Can you give us some figures about the difference in performance of the current 3.8 and 4.0 specifications?
Hasegawa always wanted to introduce the 4.0 in 2017, and "catch" Renault.

25 to 30 kW.

40 constant HP for race? Or on maximum qualy mode? Thats huge improvement