2008 Oct Honda Jerez Testing

[meves]

They began a private test today, does anyone know if there will be photos or information from this test?

[checkered]

I have no direct

info on the test, but they do need to put in some further effort. I mean, compare winter testing figures between (~ equally financed) teams thus far: Ferrari 13.195 km, McLaren 13.869 km, Renault 10.740 km, Toyota 12.232 km, BMW 12.773 km ... Honda 7.300 km. Only Force India and Super Aguri have tested less. As indicated (in the most positive possible terms) by Brawn, the team faces a priority dilemma with a dreadful record weighing on them from last season and the impending challenge of rules changes. I'm struggling to interpret their schedule and its ramifications in this regard; perhaps it's in part about Ross taking charge of the effort. But by the looks of it, the team will have to tough out some challenging times still.

[Conceptual]

Checkered,

Do you think Honda has the cajones to just run what they got for 08, and immediately start designing for 2009 under Brawn's complete direction?

If that is the case, Brawn needs to state it publicly, and then allow Super Aguri to use the construction resources necessary to evolve the SA08 and RA108 for 2008 while the rest of Honda's team puts in overtime on the 2009 challenger.

Who knows, under those circumstances, Honda might find a podium this year!

Chris

[mx_tifoso]

There might be a reason for Honda's lack of winter testing, maybe they don't care that much about this season anymore, seeing how they can't wait for the drastic and supposed "equalizing" rule changes due for '09. I can understand them, I wouldn't want to put nearly all of my resources into a season that I know for sure I'm not going to be "succesful" in.

Perhaps it's merely a low-key strategy for this seasons competition, and then pour more resources into the following ones. A "just scrape by" motto if you will.

And no, I don't have any info or pics of the test either. I suspect that there will be very little or no coverage of this Honda test, as was the same for when the other teams did the same thing months ago.

[checkered]

There might be a reason for Honda's lack of winter testing, maybe they don't care that much about this season anymore, seeing how they can't wait for the drastic and supposed "equalizing" rule changes due for '09. I can understand them, I wouldn't want to put nearly all of my resources into a season that I know for sure I'm not going to be "succesful" in.

Perhaps it's merely a low-key strategy for this seasons competition, and then pour more resources into the following ones. A "just scrape by" motto if you will.

It's interesting to

contrast this against other teams that have fallen on "hard times" and struggling to move up on the ladder, either for the first time or once again. Toyota, had it not been for Honda's spectacular lack of speed, would've faced some fairly hard questions last season as well ... obviously, they've not only come up with a completely new car, it's a darn good effort as well. Williams, showing promise of course, might've been excused for having a slightly longer-term design goal but they, too, have come up with a vehicle (and an upgrade schedule) that I believe is going to spring some surprises at the very top. Force India saw Mallya double its budget for 2008 and is showing results from no less than three wind tunnels already. Well, of course it's early days and anything written about anyone's form is speculative ... so I'll give Honda the benefit of my doubt and most certainly wish them well.

[mx_tifoso]

Regardless of what Honda accomplished during winter testing, it just might be justified by their "new" vision in order to improve their position in Formula1. From the looks of their RA108, they obviously took a completely different road from last seasons chassis, mainly (at least visually) in the nose cone design with an increased height.

Right now I don't know how to put it all into words, but it's what Ross Brawn referred to many times over. Basically that Honda have to "regroup" and get their minds straight on how they are going to advance together as a team, instead of just throwing bits and pieces at the car to see if it just might "work" this time around. And its exactly this that might possibly get Honda on its feet once and for all, because I can't say that they will get BACK on their feet, since I don't think they ever were.

And that is mostly because this season, for a team like Honda, is not an extremely important one, results wise. They just have to get by, even if its with mediocre results, and then concentrate all of their resources into the '09 season. I believe that it's wise decision on their part, as their is no benefit from practically wasting valuable resources that might become even handier in the future. All in all, the acquisition of Ross Brawn, who is a fundamental figure in F1 could very possibly be one of the most important steps forwards Honda has ever taken as a constructor. And I also wish them well, as no one deserves to endure such misery as Honda did last season.

They are changing their approach as they see fit, which happens to be very different one from other teams like Williams and Toyota. Toyota continues to battle on forward without thinking twice, and Williams aim to improve upon their success from last season. As for Force India, the team must get off on the right foot in their debut season, which might or might not, be due to pressure from investors within their parent company(ies).

[Project Four]

There has been a lot of talk of teams making do during 2008 and concentrating their efforts on 2009 with the belief that the fundamental rule changes will level the field. But, after past rule changes there was never a major reshuffling of the pack, the top teams before the rule changes stayed at the top and even when they messed up their new car designs, after developing and modified them to suit they again quickly rose to the top.

So come 2009 Ferrari and Mclaren will still be at the top.

Regarding the schools of thought for the development approach, incremental (keep building on a solid base) or big-bang (a quantum leap and then try to get it all working), don’t know what is best. I suppose it depends on works best for your team.

Big bang failed for Mclaren in 2004, but what they learnt and by developing what had, it has put them in a strong position ever since. It will be interesting to see what happens this year with Red Bull, big leap last year and reliability problems but towards the end of last year they were getting on top of it and running near the front. And then again, Toyota incremental approach sees them making some progress only to slip back as the other teams make greater advances.

Back to Honda, if anyone can get Honda to the top it will be Ross Brawn and agree with mx_tifosi

Right now I don't know how to put it all into words, but it's what Ross Brawn referred to many times over. Basically that Honda have to "regroup" and get their minds straight on how they are going to advance together as a team, instead of just throwing bits and pieces at the car to see if it just might "work" this time around. And its exactly this that might possibly get Honda on its feet once and for all, because I can't say that they will get BACK on their feet, since I don't think they ever were.

Honda need stability, time to re-group and stop to fire-fighting in the hope and what they throw onto the car will work.

[bar555]

Any chance for pictures , any links

[GTO]

Here is the grim news from Ross Brawn about their 2008 car during Feb. testing and that he will turn his attention to 2009. While most teams were feeling optimistic about their 2008 car & season ahead, I'm sure this declaration from Brawn (a month before the first race even starts) was heart breaking to the team.

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2008/02/ ... n-to-2009/

Today, news of changes at Honda that their chief designer is leaving.

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20064.html

[modbaraban]

Just recently I heard Jenson say the following: "finally the car is now drivable - something we can build on"

I wouldn't draw parallels between the performance of RA108 so far and these changes in personnel. No wonder that RB is still moving people about.

[GTO]

Can anyone confirm if the following news article could be true? I find it shocking.

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_ ... t_id=34069

[axle]

lol - if true = major cockup

[Project Four]

Can anything else go wrong for Honda not only have they designed another slow car but it also has not passed the crash test. Ross Brawn has got his work cut out.

But I have just read on the BBC website that Ross Brawn has said that they should have some new aero for Australia and believes that this should see them in a close fight with the midfield runners behind Ferrari and Mclaren.

To quote "ex-Ferrari technical director Brawn is more confident about this season after tests last week in Jerez, Spain.

He said:

"It will be one step at a time but I'm encouraged by the progress we made last week. The new car is much more consistent with long runs."

Brawn, who joined Honda last year following a sabbatical after a decade at Ferrari, called the testing session a "very encouraging first step" to improving the under-performing team. "

[meves]

These are all I can find but I'm not sure if this was from the closed Jerez test or not, these are from BAR555's post



any ideas anyone?

[bar555]

The two 45 deg images are from the last Barcelona Test (25 to 27-02-2008 ) and the rear wing picture is from Jerez Test 12 to 14-02-2008