Honda’s Formula 1 chief Yusuke Hasegawa admits the company was “too ambitious” on its return to the sport as engine suppliers to McLaren in 2015.
Honda is preparing for its final few races with the McLaren partnership that will expire at the end of this season, with the Woking outfit heading off to Renault after three acrimonious years without success.
The successful pairing of the late 1980s and early 1990s failed to transpire into the modern era, a couple of fifth places in 2016 has been the only reward for all its efforts.
The Japanese manufacturer will link up with Toro Rosso in 2018, but speaking about the failed relationship of McLaren-Honda, Hasegawa says Honda was simply not ready for its return after seven years away from F1.
“Honda’s expectations were so, so high,” Hasegawa told El Confidential. “That was our big mistake. We were too ambitious, and actually, we were not ready in 2015.
“But Honda’s identity is to always fight, never give up, and if it was different we would leave F1.”
Honda’s poor performance and reliability often led to lead driver Fernando Alonso constantly criticising the firm publicly, due to frustration at not being given a competitive package.
Although the Spaniard’s comments didn’t always go down well with Honda’s employees, Hasegawa understood Alonso’s behaviour and is disappointed they couldn’t give him a strong engine to compete with.
“There are people at Honda who were not happy with Alonso’s attitude, but for me it was not a problem,” he added.
“I am personally very disappointed that I did not give him a good engine, but here in F1 it is difficult for everyone to be happy.
“Alonso always came to put pressure on me. If the car was bad, he had no qualms about telling me he was not happy. But he is a good person and he probably felt very bad about having to scold me. But he had to, because he wanted everything to be right.
“Because he was not happy, it is very difficult to establish a good working relationship. But of course it was not personal.
“Alonso did his job, as he was a good professional. But drivers are very emotional guys and you have to understand when they behave like that. If he had the best car, would he be happy? Yes, and that is why we cannot complain.”
