Honda thinks they can match Ferrari

[Scott]

...at Spa.  Well, good luck to them and fantastic news for Alonzo and Button.  I'll be happy to see some smiles in the Mclaren garage for a change if that is the case.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120337

[cosworth151]

I wonder what they're smoking. It does look like Honda is matching Red Bull in one respect - blaming their partner for the problems.

[Scott]

I wonder what they're smoking. It does look like Honda is matching Red Bull in one respect - blaming their partner for the problems.

To be fair, they said the cars aero and tech sucks because the engine reliability was so bad pre and early-season that they couldn't develop it properly.  Sounded more like they were blaming themselves for the situation, but you're right, they are putting the onus on Mclaren to improve now.

[Jericoke]

When things don't go according to plan it is so easy to blame everyone else.

Honestly, I'm quite impressed with the strides that McLaren-Honda have made.  No one has improved as much as they have.  Naturally they had more room to improve, but they've shown they can compete with the midfield teams.  A season of adversity and pulling together might set McLaren-Honda up for success next year.

[John S]

Honda and Macca do not appear to be singing from the same hymn sheet with what Honda have told Autosport, according to the Woking team's assessment of the Belgian GP.

Singapore not Spa will be the real improvement says Boullier, also Honda seem to have glossed over the grid penalties lying in wait in Belgium says the GP Times website. 

McLaren drivers Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button will both take grid penalties at this weekends Belgian Grand Prix as both their cars will be fitted with new Honda power units.

The pair have already used their allocation of five free engines - one more than the rest of the grid thanks to a recent rule change - as well as sixth unit, making this change their seventh.

"Honda has updated our combustion characteristics to further improve our power units for Spa and the second half of the season," said Arai. "This weekend's free practices will be important to test the pairing of the power units to the cars.

"The Belgian race, however, will surely be a difficult one for the team and drivers, with expected grid penalties and a long and unforgiving power circuit.


Racing director Eric Boullier agrees and believes it will be Singapore before McLaren's true pace is revealed.

"Spa is a truly spectacular circuit - arguably the best on the calendar for many - but, given the unique power and downforce package required, the track won't play to our strengths.

"Therefore, of course, we must be measured in our optimism, and we will need to wait for Singapore and beyond before we can see the fruits of our labours reflected on track."

Courtesy Grandprixtimes.com, Today.

 

[Steve A.]

Looks like a test weekend for Maclaren,  will be interested to see what improvements are made.

[Alianora La Canta]

They will surely be able to match Ferrari for speed of engine changes at the rate they're doing them!