Honda chief engineer Shintaro Orihara has hailed what he described as a “good step” towards recovering its woeful start to its return to Formula 1 with Fernando Alonso’s race finish at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Japanese marque has come under heavy criticism since returning to the sport with the Silverstone-based squad, with its power unit causing a myriad of problems.
With Aston at the foot of the grid, the AMR26, designed by Team Principal Adrian Newey, has been unable to unlock any full potential with issues largely surrounding the PU’s battery.
But with some adjustments made to mitigate the heavy vibrations Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll were suffering with, the Spaniard was able to make it to the chequered flag in Suzuka.
With Aston’s trackside chief Mike Krack quashing any idea the result was a cause for celebration, he did recognise it as a milestone, given the modest and meagre amount of laps the car completed previously.
And after the race at its home circuit, Honda’s man on the ground declared it a leap forwards in terms of the engine’s reliability.
“We completed a full distance of the race,” Orihara told media including Motorsport Week. “That is a good step in terms of reliability. We are working hard to improve battery deliverability.”
Whilst reliability is a fundamental basic that has been important in Honda’s progression, Oirhara revealed that overall performance is also being significantly paid attention to.
“But on the other hand, also in the Sakura factory, we are working hard to improve engine performance,” he said.
“Also we are working hard to evaluate and optimise energy management.
“[We must] also develop engine performance mechanically, it’s not a short-term job.
“So we will keep working hard, implementing performance in the background.
“But we gathered a lot of [in Japan] through the race distance that gives us more data to improve our drivability, and also energy management.
“That gives us good data for the coming four weeks going to Miami.”
With this particular step being taken at just the third race, the signs look good for Honda to continue at this rate with Miami a month away.
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