honda can be replaced with 4 better power units. newey cant be.
The 'Honda way' is that things like F1 are used to develop and train their people, obviously presumably not the intent to turn up dead last, but equally, if they could already build a best in class engine, then the folk involved haven't developed / improved. Hence the team that went through this process with the previous turbo hybrid were dispersed to take what they learned elsewhere in the business and not brought back to work on this one, instead, a new group was put together.Badger wrote: ↑20 Mar 2026, 09:37All this talk about "the Honda way" seems to be covering for some pretty gaping holes in their organisation. If I wanted to be convinced of the engineering might of Honda I would want them to show up with a class leading engine right away, like Merc. The fact that they are incapable of even being semi-competitive early in regulations tells me they don't have the competence to innovate and lead the way. They start out awful because they have to look at what everyone else is doing, copy their ideas, and then work away for years to maybe reach parity once diminishing returns have set in for everyone else. That is "the Honda way" judging by the last decade in F1.Honda Porsche fan wrote: ↑20 Mar 2026, 06:01If you want to do business with Honda in racing, they'll take you to the top of the racing world and then............be prepared..........and, be patient for the long climb back to the top.
Aston Martin needs to be patient, anyone does when you work with Honda in racing. If Aston Martin sticks it out with Honda, they can dominate but, how long will it take Honda ? The Aston Martin chassis is ready I think.
Alonso turns 45 soon. I don't think there are a couple more years anymore. This has to be the last year. They can't bring that car to the championship right away next year.zoroastar wrote:i hope the wheatley signing will keep alonso around for a couple of more years. if in fact hes leaving audi, i dont think they couldve made a better choice. more technical and way less baggage than horner. he was trackside manager at redbull. and team manager at audi. i think binnotto is team principle at audi. so the aston job would be an upgrade. i just wonder how long hell be sitting on the sidelines.
Sounds like a convenient narrative to me.ScottB wrote: ↑20 Mar 2026, 11:28The 'Honda way' is that things like F1 are used to develop and train their people, obviously presumably not the intent to turn up dead last, but equally, if they could already build a best in class engine, then the folk involved haven't developed / improved. Hence the team that went through this process with the previous turbo hybrid were dispersed to take what they learned elsewhere in the business and not brought back to work on this one, instead, a new group was put together.Badger wrote: ↑20 Mar 2026, 09:37All this talk about "the Honda way" seems to be covering for some pretty gaping holes in their organisation. If I wanted to be convinced of the engineering might of Honda I would want them to show up with a class leading engine right away, like Merc. The fact that they are incapable of even being semi-competitive early in regulations tells me they don't have the competence to innovate and lead the way. They start out awful because they have to look at what everyone else is doing, copy their ideas, and then work away for years to maybe reach parity once diminishing returns have set in for everyone else. That is "the Honda way" judging by the last decade in F1.
Presumably if Honda's big bosses had wanted it, they could have moved people from wherever they went, back to the F1 project, and chose not to, because that's presumably not what they want to get out of F1.
Will be interesting to see if we start getting reports of Honda moving some of those people back into the F1 operation, or if they just stay the course like last time and assume it will eventually come good.
Or of course, they could just throw in the can and bail, given the vast amount of losses they've just booked cancelling their '0-series' electric cars...
But paddock whispers have suggested to this publication that Wheatley has indicated a desire to leave his role with Audi in order to pursue the opportunity with Aston Martin.
It’s also emerged that the working relationship between Wheatley and Binotto has been fraught with friction, with one senior source commenting on the “strained dynamic” between the two top leaders at Audi.
Certainly, it’s been suggested that Audi CEO Gernot Dollner is said to be furious with Wheatley, whose interest in switching teams was very much under the radar.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/jonat ... /10806706/FNTC wrote: ↑20 Mar 2026, 17:10"PlanetF1.com’s understanding of the situation is that a formal offer has not yet been extended to Wheatley by Aston Martin, but the British engineer could be amenable to a switch due to personal life circumstances that could make a return to the UK more tempting."
"Due to personal reasons, Jonathan Wheatley will depart the team with immediate effect."
No info on gardening leave, but says with immediate effect. Strange.
