Breaking news
Formula 1
McLaren impressed by Honda's performance
McLaren executive director Zak Brown admits his team has been impressed with its former engine supplier Honda's performance in winter Formula 1 testing with its new partner Toro Rosso.
Matt Beer
Edited: Mar 8, 2018, 10:21 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Honda's poor reliability caused extensive pre-season difficulties for McLaren during their campaigns together, but in the first year following their split the Woking-based team - now a Renault customer - is currently at the bottom of the testing mileage chart with two days of winter running to go.
Toro Rosso and Honda have had a relatively smooth build-up to the new season and by the end of Wednesday had completed 497 laps of testing compared to McLaren-Renault's 355.
"I think they're doing a good job," said Brown when asked for his thoughts on Honda's winter.
"We're focused on our own programme. I know, as you'd expect, there are a lot of comparisons in testing between them and us, but Eric [Boullier] and the full team are focused on our programme, and very confident we're going to have a good season."
Brown said he had always anticipated Honda's F1 programme would succeed eventually.
"We know they're a great company and it was just a matter of time until they'd see some improvements," he added. "They're having a good test and good on them."
Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley emphasised that working with Honda had been flawless for his team so far.
"They've brought a couple of updates, they've been working hard and so far we've had zero reliability issues and it's been smooth sailing from a Honda point of view," he said. "That's been really positive."
He insisted he had not had negative expectations of Honda going into 2018, saying it would have done him no good to dwell on its previous struggles.
"I was really positive and optimistic before I came here," said Hartley. "For my sanity, there was no point expecting it to be bad before we even arrived.
"When we went to the factory three or four weeks ago, I could feel there was some quiet confidence within everyone.
"I had really high expectations, especially after the last couple of meetings in Faenza when everyone was so positive about the early signs from Honda.
"Actually, I had high expectations before I arrived and they have definitely delivered."
Additional reporting by Jamie Klein and Edd Straw
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Gallery: Latest tech shots from final F1 test
Next article Red Bull making "strategic mistake" with fuel decision - Wolff
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Matt Beer
Ferrari drivers escape punishment for clash
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brazilian GP
Ferrari drivers escape punishment for clash
Hamilton accepts full responsibility for Albon collision
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brazilian GP
Hamilton accepts full responsibility for Albon collision
Vettel, Leclerc called to stewards over accident
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brazilian GP
Vettel, Leclerc called to stewards over accident
More from
McLaren
Why McLaren cannot fix its F1 car handling until 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
11 min
Why McLaren cannot fix its F1 car handling until 2027
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
18 h
Oscar Piastri on his Singapore puncture: “Ironically, it probably helped”
Latest news
Why McLaren cannot fix its F1 car handling until 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
11 min
Why McLaren cannot fix its F1 car handling until 2027
Christian Horner clears air on “dream job” Ferrari rumours and sets return terms
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
31 min
Christian Horner clears air on “dream job” Ferrari rumours and sets return terms
Adrien Fourmaux confident of WRC drive despite 2027 uncertainty
WRC
WRC WRC 51 min
Adrien Fourmaux confident of WRC drive despite 2027 uncertainty
Ducati rubbishes claim 2026 MotoGP bike built specifically for Marc Marquez
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
1 h
Ducati rubbishes claim 2026 MotoGP bike built specifically for Marc Marquez
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe