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Honda switches focus from reliability to power output

Honda switches focus from reliability to power output

15-05-2019 10:56
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Jake Williams-Smith

Honda will switch its focus from reliability to power output after the Japanese manufacturer believes it has finally gotten on top of its reliability problems.

Upon its return to Formula 1 with McLaren, Honda endured a miserable reunion with the team, building unreliable and slower power units. However, in 2019, with the new partnership with Red Bull Racing, Honda may well have reached its goal and will now look to catch Mercedes' benchmark.

Honda Formula 1 chief Masashi Yamamoto says the manufacturer was satisfied with its work in improving issues with the power unit and would instead focus on outright power for the rest of the season.

“For Honda, the goal is always to win races,” Yamamoto told Speedweek.

“The teams, Honda Research & Development (R & D) and other factors show that we have a good system.

"So far we have focused on the balance of horsepower and reliability. I think we definitely need more horsepower now. So we need to keep our heads down and improve.

“With the help of Red Bull and Toro Rosso, we are in better shape than Renault at the moment, but I do not think we are far ahead of them.

“We have to work hard to increase power while maintaining reliability at a high level. That requires a lot of development work, but without them it’s difficult to catch up.

“We must be careful with the budget in the future, but I think we’re making good choices and the current balance is the best we can do.”

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