F1 News
Honda aware of weak spot: 'We're losing time there'
- GPblog.com
Although Honda has already announced that they will leave Formula 1 after the 2021 season, there is still hard work to be done until then. For example, the engine manufacturer has a problem with the battery, which means that time is lost compared to Mercedes.
During the Russian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen said on the radio that he lost about six tenths of a second on the straight during the race. After the end of the Grand Prix, Christian Horner also complained about problems with the battery in the engine.
An interview with the Japanese AS-Web asked if Honda's power source had a problem with the battery. "If it only happens in one lap, it's not such a problem. Still, we're losing time there in relation to the competition. We're trying multiple ways to use our MGU-H," explains Toyoharu Tanabe.
Problem-free in 2021?
Possibly the problem will be solved in the coming season according to Tanabe. "We develop our engines in a way that improves our weaknesses and extends our strengths. This is a balance between the ICE and the ERS system, so we need to make a clear decision where we want to make improvements," explains Honda's top executive.
For the time being, the car doesn't seem to be causing any problems at the Nürburgring, despite missing two practice sessions. "Both sessions were without problems and all four cars were able to complete their program in FP3. As it was only one hour, we didn't have a lot of things to try, but I think we got a solid result," concluded Tanabe.