Honda says next year it may use the 2017-spec engine if its 2018 engine is unreliable or doesn’t give the performance that its hoping it will.
Outgoing Honda Formula 1 project leader Yusuke Hasegawa told Autosport that should Honda’s 2018 engine fail in the same way all of its predecessors have, the company plan to keep its 2017 engine as a backup plan.
Honda’s new engine partners, Toro Rosso, will hope this is good news for them as whilst Honda’s engine was slow, McLaren, Honda’s previous partner, only had two DNFs in the last six races on the 2017 season.
Toro Rosso will hope that Honda’s 2018 engine will be much quicker and hope to reap the rewards of being Honda’s sole partner team next season.
The first 1.6-litre V6 hybrid produced by Honda in 2015 was woefully unreliable and this has been a constant theme throughout Honda’s F1 return.
McLaren has struggled greatly during the three year partnership having only managed two ninth-place finishes and one-sixth place in the constructors’ championship.
Hasegawa told Autosport “I’m sure we can start the season well next year,” he said
“We modified the engine concept from last year to this year. There’s no doubt it was a necessary update for us. We are thinking it was the right direction.”
Hasegawa also talked more about Honda sourcing help from outside to benefit their F1 project.
“We started many collaborations with other partners, the identity of which we don’t normally disclose, We can see results from that project.
“We will continue those collaborations – there’s no reason to stop – we even have to enhance the collaboration more.
“I understand most people think Honda has tried to do it by themselves. But it’s not right. We’re happy to invite outside resource, and we do.”
The Italian team only managed seventh place in the constructors’ championship last year, with woeful reliability and driver changes hampering its charge.
However in September Honda Chief said, “For next year, our goal is to fight for the top three at the front of the grid.”
