F1 News
Honda admit French GP upgrade will not match levels of Mercedes or Ferrari
Honda will be giving Red Bull and Toro Rosso an engine upgrade this weekend. Toyoharu Tanabe, Techincal Director of Honda Racing, confirms this upgrade will deliver more power after turbocharger changes.
Max Verstappen, Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat will be fitted with the new engine, while Alex Albon misses out because Toro Rosso does not want a double penalty. The Red Bull boys will not pick up a grid drop.
This is Honda's spec 3 engine for 2019. Spec 2, a reliability-focused upgrade, was brought in for the race in Baku. Tanabe talks about the good relationship between themselves and the various aerodynamic departments which should bring the best out of the power upgrade.
"In producing this Spec 3 PU, we have updated the turbocharger thanks to the knowledge and technology of the Aero engine department in the area of aerodynamic design, working alongside turbocharger manufacturer IHI," Tanabe reported.
The tests Honda has carried out report positive news ahead of the first back-to-back Grand Prix weekends of the season. While they're pleased to be increasing the power, Tanabe remains grounded about the engine's potential.
"Our test bench data shows a power increase over the previous version of our PU, however, we know that we have not yet matched the figures from the manufacturers currently leading the championship," he added.
"But it’s a step in the right direction and we will continue our development throughout the rest of the season, calling on the resources of the whole company."
