Honda Power Unit Hardware & Software

[timbo]

Very strange noise from Verstappen's car, like TC.

That is forbidden and not possible due to the spec ECU. And as you can see he has massive issues getting the power down unlike the Mercedes. Honda needs to work on their rain mapping for the 2020 engine.

What you are hearing is most likely wheel spin even in 3rd gear.

I know it is impossible, that's why I'm puzzled. It did sound like cylinder cutting though. Maybe they cut ignition on part throttle?

[Pyrone89]

Very strange noise from Verstappen's car, like TC.

That is forbidden and not possible due to the spec ECU. And as you can see he has massive issues getting the power down unlike the Mercedes. Honda needs to work on their rain mapping for the 2020 engine.

What you are hearing is most likely wheel spin even in 3rd gear.

I know it is impossible, that's why I'm puzzled. It did sound like cylinder cutting though. Maybe they cut ignition on part throttle?

Possibly a wet setting

[GhostF1]

Very strange noise from Verstappen's car, like TC.

That is forbidden and not possible due to the spec ECU. And as you can see he has massive issues getting the power down unlike the Mercedes. Honda needs to work on their rain mapping for the 2020 engine.

What you are hearing is most likely wheel spin even in 3rd gear.

I know it is impossible, that's why I'm puzzled. It did sound like cylinder cutting though. Maybe they cut ignition on part throttle?

This is known behaviour from Honda. Part throttle there is plenty of cylinder cutting going on. Wet conditions they probably make it more apparent.

As for throttle mapping. Max has already spoken highly of how tractable the throttle is with the Honda compared to the Renault. So I don't think the mapping is the issue.

Watching the onboard cams, power down looks fine. Renault and Fez powered cars have mor eissues coming out of 3 especially.

Interesting point to note... Before Lewis' last lap, Bono comes on the radio and says "for this last one, let's have magic on, switch magic to on", then watching, his power down out/traction out of corners was fantastic! Borderline insane for the conditions!

[Edax]

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....

This is known behaviour from Honda. Part throttle there is plenty of cylinder cutting going on. Wet conditions they probably make it more apparent.

[snip]

Makes sense, I can imagine that he used a higher gear and lower revs than normal. Could it have been anti stall? That sounds quite similar.

If it was some form of rudimentary traction control it wasn’t terribly effective.

[godlameroso]

I fear the season is going to be tough since Honda is not allowed to upgrade the performance of the engine. That means whatever advantage Mercedes has is unsurmountable this year. At least the performance of the power unit isn't as dreadful as Ferrari's is this year.

[McMika98]

I fear the season is going to be tough since Honda is not allowed to upgrade the performance of the engine. That means whatever advantage Mercedes has is unsurmountable this year. At least the performance of the power unit isn't as dreadful as Ferrari's is this year.

Renault came with same engine as last year and improved reliability no extra hp and yet Norris was a tenth of Max in quali. People claimed Honda was quicker than Renault last year, so how come Honda cars can't compete with new upgraded engines. The Merc aren't that powerful than the Renault.

[epo]

I fear the season is going to be tough since Honda is not allowed to upgrade the performance of the engine. That means whatever advantage Mercedes has is unsurmountable this year. At least the performance of the power unit isn't as dreadful as Ferrari's is this year.

Renault came with same engine as last year and improved reliability no extra hp and yet Norris was a tenth of Max in quali. People claimed Honda was quicker than Renault last year, so how come Honda cars can't compete with new upgraded engines. The Merc aren't that powerful than the Renault.

Renault engine only has qualifying power and can hardly be used during the race, that was already shown in 2019.
Without it power is for sure lower then Honda, but the boost mode is pretty good.
The problem with RB and Honda is in the ERS department, I believe that is still open for development and change this year, not sure though. But even so that isn't an easy change.

[Big Tea]

I fear the season is going to be tough since Honda is not allowed to upgrade the performance of the engine. That means whatever advantage Mercedes has is unsurmountable this year. At least the performance of the power unit isn't as dreadful as Ferrari's is this year.

You think maybe, as Marco keeps claiming, they are running very conservative?
As they become confident they can probably wind it up considerably, especially if they are allowed reliability tweaks for any problem that shows up when it is stretched.

[rogazilla]

I fear the season is going to be tough since Honda is not allowed to upgrade the performance of the engine. That means whatever advantage Mercedes has is unsurmountable this year. At least the performance of the power unit isn't as dreadful as Ferrari's is this year.

You think maybe, as Marco keeps claiming, they are running very conservative?
As they become confident they can probably wind it up considerably, especially if they are allowed reliability tweaks for any problem that shows up when it is stretched.

It is likely, we know they have to change their update plan due to regulation change. Parts may be on the PU that's not tested in Barcelona being used first time.

[epo]

I fear the season is going to be tough since Honda is not allowed to upgrade the performance of the engine. That means whatever advantage Mercedes has is unsurmountable this year. At least the performance of the power unit isn't as dreadful as Ferrari's is this year.

You think maybe, as Marco keeps claiming, they are running very conservative?
As they become confident they can probably wind it up considerably, especially if they are allowed reliability tweaks for any problem that shows up when it is stretched.

Think he meant they rather have more power and take grid penalties then be conservative and use max three engines. I kinda agree as it's looking now they will not be a wc.

[Big Tea]

I fear the season is going to be tough since Honda is not allowed to upgrade the performance of the engine. That means whatever advantage Mercedes has is unsurmountable this year. At least the performance of the power unit isn't as dreadful as Ferrari's is this year.

You think maybe, as Marco keeps claiming, they are running very conservative?
As they become confident they can probably wind it up considerably, especially if they are allowed reliability tweaks for any problem that shows up when it is stretched.

Think he meant they rather have more power and take grid penalties then be conservative and use max three engines. I kinda agree as it's looking now they will not be a wc.

I mean I was thinking there is possibly far more power in that current engine than is being used, so rather than actually swapping metal bits could they just run it 'a little less safe'. 1 or 2% would be a fair slice for free.

[Alexf1]

Think so. Tanabe recently said he first wants to squeeze everything out of this concept before start developing another one. That could indicate that the higher engine modes can be used longer as soon as they verified this engine spec on a low altitude track. Hope is on Hungary then.

[63l8qrrfy6]

But even that extra 1-2% will most likely require running a few more engines to the end of their expected life on the dyno to prove out the new duty cycle and that will eat into the limited dyno time, impacting development for next year.

DNFs are costly this season and RBR have already bagged a couple in the first 2 races.

I think Marko should mind his own bussiness and leave Honda to it.

[epo]

But even that extra 1-2% will most likely require running a few more engines to the end of their expected life on the dyno to prove out the new duty cycle and that will eat into the limited dyno time, impacting development for next year.

DNFs are costly this season and RBR have already bagged a couple in the first 2 races.

I think Marko should mind his own bussiness and leave Honda to it.

It's his car so his business. I rather have fun races where Max could challenge Hamilon then see RB driving a slower power mode in no-mans land. But yeah they will sort it out ( at least I hope )
Also not sure if it will make a difference, Mercedes will have that 1/2% also, so more is needed unfortunately.
Maybe hope for some magic fuel..

[etusch]

Think so. Tanabe recently said he first wants to squeeze everything out of this concept before start developing another one. That could indicate that the higher engine modes can be used longer as soon as they verified this engine spec on a low altitude track. Hope is on Hungary then.

They said that they worked on that. If they succeed what they worked on, we can see more exiting race at least and welcome what we see at last two races.