14 replies to this topic

[la force supreme des mclaren]

Honda plan major car revamp for Malaysia

Honda Racing are planning a major revamp to their RA107 in time for the Malaysian Grand Prix, autosport.com can reveal, after admitting that the car has fallen short of expectations.

Although Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello showed some improved form during the recent Bahrain test, where the car's definitive Melbourne-spec aero package was run for the first time, the RA107 still lacks the out-and-out pace needed to fight at the front of the field.

The lack of performance has left the team's technical department seeking improvements, and the first step will be taken during the pre-Malaysian GP test that takes place at Sepang following the first race in Australia.

Honda's senior technical director Shuhei Nakamoto has told autosport.com that major improvements to the car's aerodynamic package and also other mechanical changes would be made for the Sepang test.

"There will be a big upgrade at the Sepang test, and also a revision to the suspension," he said.

Nakamoto said he was pessimistic about Honda's chances of a strong showing in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix - where he doubted they would be able to qualify inside the top 10.

"At the moment we are ahead of Red Bull and Toyota, but behind the rest," he said. "I know BMW have been using a non-2007 wing (in testing) so they lose one or two tenths, but we will still be behind. It will be a massive struggle to get into Q3 (qualifying for the top ten)."

Despite the fears about the pace, however, Nakamoto said that he was comfortable with how the car performed over long runs in testing - something that could allow them to take points in Melbourne.

"We tried several different mechanical set-ups in the test," he explained. "Both Jenson and Rubens found one set-up which may be good in the long run."

Earlier this week, team boss Nick Fry admitted that the start of the season would be a struggle for the team but that he was comfortable that they would improve as the year wore on.

"With our team over the last seven or eight years it has been an evolutionary process and we evolved our way up to fourth place in the championship last year," he said.

"But to get into the top three, we don't feel you can do it with evolution. It is more minor revolution and a lot of features of this car, especially the cooling package, the exhaust packaging and Coke bottling at the rear of the car are probably more dramatic than any other.

"So the headroom this cars gives us in order to develop through the season is much greater than we have had before. I am not promising we will win in Melbourne, far from it, I think we will be in a points scoring position.

"But as we go through the season this car has the ability to get stronger and stronger, and it will be a race winner."


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Maybe they are gonna be lucky the 2nd time.

[monza gorilla]

I thought this was going to be about engines....... Interesting, nonetheless.

[Autumnpuma]

Yeah, I had my global warming and carbon credit jokes all ready to type.....

Anyway, Honda are feeling the loss of Willis already. To recap, I have said in the past that Geoff is a brilliant designer but horrible manager. He designed great cars, but like Sam Michael at Williams he is a less than perfect manager. Under Geoff, Honda started out with a brilliant chassis, but lost it in year-long development. Honda are now suffering because the person who designed the excellent chassis' of the past is gone (due not to Honda, mind, but to Geoff's pride).

[Jenson_Rules]

Well it certainly needs a major upgrade, no question. I have already decided to not get my hopes up and To me if they finish 7th or 8th in melborne i would be extremely happy! This is what it has come too, being happy about low points!

[ykickamoocow]

Jenson_Rules!!!, on Mar 5 2007, 11:39 PM, said:

Well it certainly needs a major upgrade, no question. I have already decided to not get my hopes up and To me if they finish 7th or 8th in melborne i would be extremely happy! This is what it has come too, being happy about low points!

I feel the same way about Red Bull at the moment. Its a shame as i had such high hopes for this season  

[Jenson_Rules]

Red Bull look to have made no real step forward in performance despite having a very very good technical team!

[ykickamoocow]

Jenson_Rules!!!, on Mar 6 2007, 12:00 AM, said:

Red Bull look to have made no real step forward in performance despite having a very very good technical team!

I am still banking on the fact that the next test for Red Bull they are going to add alot more aerodynamic devices for Melbourne which i hope will give the car a extra few tenths on the track.

[pumpdoc]

ykickamoocow, on Mar 5 2007, 05:05 AM, said:

I am still banking on the fact that the next test for Red Bull they are going to add alot more aerodynamic devices for Melbourne which i hope will give the car a extra few tenths on the track.

Boy, you do have your hopes up...................

[goferrarigo]

Jenson_Rules!!!, on Mar 5 2007, 07:00 AM, said:

Red Bull look to have made no real step forward in performance despite having a very very good technical team!

I think the main reason is hey have a(1) good tech guy but the others have never worked with him and don't know his style that well thus imrovements can only come over time.

[Quiet One]

goferrarigo, on Mar 5 2007, 02:11 PM, said:

I think the main reason is hey have a(1) good tech guy but the others have never worked with him and don't know his style that well thus imrovements can only come over time.

Indeed.

Oh, and the fact that the car is crap

[ykickamoocow]

Quiet One, on Mar 6 2007, 03:03 AM, said:

Indeed.

Oh, and the fact that the car is crap

I truly believe this car has alot of potential and will get closer to the top teams as the season wares on.

[Quiet One]

ykickamoocow, on Mar 5 2007, 04:13 PM, said:

I truly believe this car has alot of potential and will get closer to the top teams as the season wares on.

I was just kidding! Well, the car is no good so far, I wasn´t kidding about that But...it has a Renault engine so that make us kind of allies for this year!
Go Red Bull, go!

[JayStorm]

I think Red Bull and Honda will be scrapping over 5th and 6th places and really, Honda hasn't really got any excuses whereas Red Bull have had less experiance and this year arestarting pretty much from scratch.

[Jenson_Rules]

I disagree, Redbull stopped all development last year to make an amazing car for this year. Now that is pretty bad. Honda developed their car right down to the last few races! But Honda really don't have an excuse. They prob just made some mistakes but they seem to know what issues the car has and also appear to know a way to sort them out!

[monza gorilla]

JayStorm, on Mar 6 2007, 10:50 AM, said:

I think Red Bull and Honda will be scrapping over 5th and 6th places and really, Honda hasn't really got any excuses whereas Red Bull have had less experiance and this year arestarting pretty much from scratch.

Less experience? I suspect that the core of Red bull is the core of Jaguar is the core of Stewart. So, not so inexperienced. Unless you mean the temporary destabilising effect of Mr. Newey.