Honda on sensor fault: "No effect on power unit side"
Red Bull Content Pool
General
- GPblog.com
Honda have been very pleased with its own power unit performance in 2021. The Japanese outfit pulled the engine that was originally meant for 2022 forward a season because they are stepping out of Formula 1 after this year and that has had the desired effect. The engine power is fine and the reliability seems to be on a good level as well. Max Verstappen was also spared any problems in the Styrian Grand Prix.
The steps that have been taken in recent times have been enormous. "The evolution of the power unit speaks for itself", says Toyoharu Tanabe in conversation with AS-Web. Speaking to the Japanese medium, the top executive at Honda says that reliability is essential to get through the season without grid penalties. "To achieve the best performance within the limit of three power units per year, we need to achieve a high level of reliability. The evolution in both performance and reliability has been the most important factor on Honda's side."
It is an intensive process to keep improving the power unit. "We have learned a lot so far and have continued to develop the engine through many different tests. At the same time we have been looking for the best way to use and manage the car, both on the race track and at our operation centres in Sakura and Milton Keynes. I think we are building something beautiful", he stated.
No problems with Honda
In the final stages of the race, Verstappen complained on the on-board radio about his brake pedal failing. Race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase told him to stay off the kerbs. Honda also checked the engine to be sure. "It was a sensor fault on the car body and it didn't seem to affect the performance significantly. There was no effect at all on the power unit side."