FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[CookinFlat6]

Interesting comments from Ron Dennis here.

The second is that, in F1’s complicated new age of kinetic energy recovery systems, there is far more to an engine partnership than the provision of horsepower. "It’s access to the source code that allows you to both harness and harvest the energy recovery systems and that’s crucial for getting a well-balanced car," Ron Dennis explained to Sky F1 at Suzuka. The McLaren boss isn’t in the habit of delivering soundbites but his next line was the ultimate advertising slogan for his team’s reunion with Honda: “No grand prix team is going to win a World Championship in the future unless it is the dominant recipient of an engine manufacturer’s efforts."

I wonder if it was Lewis that first pointed that out to Ron as he was packing his bags for Merc, although at the time I am sure Ron said 'dont listen to that Lauda chap Lewis, He would say anything at all to trick you, nah you are better off with a customer team like us, and we even give you access to twitter'

[CookinFlat6]

It would seem that you are simply...

...sick of seeing Alonso...

You're kidding! Alonso in a decent car fighting Hamilton in a similar car. Divine

Lets hope the cuddly loveable Spaniard doesn't run away after a year this time. Yes Lewis spanked him in the same car performance wise and matched him points wise in 2007, but that was a long tme ago, its not like Lewis will have improved that much compared to the second oldest guy on the grid

[CookinFlat6]

Some fighting words from Arai, and we know what happens to Japanese executives who dont deliver what they say

Given the struggles both Ferrari and Renault have endured at the outset of the sport’s new turbo era, Honda are surprisingly bullish about their prospects next season. And that’s putting it mildly. Despite their self-imposed exile from F1 since 2008, Honda are adamant they’ll return as winners in 2015.

“I trust - I am a firm believer - that we will win races next year,” predicted Honda’s Head of Motorsport Yasuhisa Arai in a recent interview. “I have confidence that we will match Mercedes."

The word ‘transitional’ evidently has no place in the Honda dictionary.

While Arari’s confidence is likely to be met with scepticism elsewhere – just imagine the reaction at Renault and Ferrari for starters - it has to be assumed his confidence is based on solid facts rather than fanciful thinking. Honda have had a full season in which to evaluate the competition and, thanks to Mercedes’ supply of engines to McLaren, they have been ideally situated to understand the strengths – and any weaknesses – of the current field-leading package and the advantages of a ‘works team’ partnership.

Their optimism is worth listening to.

[Hammer278]

Ah damn, so the Fonz might have a chance to be winning races again in 2015.

[Nin-Chin]

Peter Prodromou has started bring things from Red Bull to McLaren already too...



The new McLaren front wing is virtually the same as the Red Bull wing now.

[stonemonkey]

How much information about the Mercedes engine could make its way through McLaren to Honda?

[What's Burning?]

How much information about the Mercedes engine could make its way through McLaren to Honda?

Not much. The engines are chaperoned and they're actually serviced by Mercedes support which comes along with the purchase price. I'm sure McLaren have lots and lots of data that is observable to them and that Honda would know they have to be able to replicated. Which is one of the reasons that I believe Honda is confident with their engine as they can compare it directly to the performance of the Merc unit.

[stonemonkey]

I thought that about the data from running the cars but wondered about anything else, i'd guess the mclaren guys will have been reporting anything at all they could pick up on.

[CookinFlat6]

Honda, the largest engine builder in the world, with access to the schematics filed with the FIA by Merc will be able to build their won version even without knowing the exact dimensions or materials used. They would know exactly how to recreate the concepts to get a closely matched if slightly inferior product. Lets face it the Japanese are no strangers to making copies and the access to Mclaren wont have hurt them.

Lets face it, if they really wanted they could have installed some type of scanner in any Merc pit or garage (maybe at the Japanese GP) and done a full radiation scan to measure the internals without even touching the engine physically. Not saying they have or would, and I dont know the logistics but I think we can safely say the 2015 Honda engine will be an inferior version of Mercs 2014 lump and will be much better in ERS and turbo integration than the 2 existing hapless loser manufacturers

They could replace RBR next year as the only challengers for a win on the back of a better engine and RBR matching aero and chassis

Its becoming obvious that Ferrari and Renaults panicking is as much about Merc staying out in front (they already are) as it is about Honda turning up, embarrasing them and leaving them without customers for 2016.

But like someone at Ferrari said once, if a team cant hack it they should leave F1 to the serious competitors. At least Ferrari will have Haas for a bit but if Honda start offering customers an engine thats better and cheaper, Renault and Ferrari are pretty much dead ducks - they could be writing off their expensive Hybrid projects

Its obvious the former blackmailer was waiting to see before signing, and after the test the deals now done, or maybe the dreamer samurai is waiting for Lewis or Nico to leave Merc in a huff next week

The good thing is that its obvious no one needs Ferrari or Renault, and no one would really care if their expensive lumps of sh!t engines become museum pieces

[What's Burning?]

Dollars to donuts there are some serious non disclosure agreements between McLaren and Mercedes regarding their association with Honda, and McLaren have been disqualified for a year already for doing something similar not too long ago. I bet they wouldn't do that again. Honda has the resources to get the information simply though observation and data analysis. Nothing wrong with showing up with the second best engine on the grid, maybe even good enough to go toe to toe with Merc.

If it happens to be better than Renault and Ferrari in the process... well

[stonemonkey]

Lol cookin', no I wasnt thinking that they would get information to build a copy, more like taking mercs solutions like the splitting of the turbo and whether or not the ideas could be integrated into their engine.