mzso wrote: ↑28 Jul 2026, 13:32
ispano6 wrote: ↑26 Jul 2026, 07:50
bigblue wrote: ↑26 Jul 2026, 00:53
Posts like the one a couple of posts above are why Honda fans who've come to Aston Martin Honda, are touchy about things that Aston Martin fans who've come to Aston Martin Honda (yes, this is a new
partnership), say. There's quite an undercurrent of when the car goes well, it's because of the great chassis in spite of terrible Honda, and when it goes badly, it's because terrible Honda are so bad all is lost. It's even been said no chassis development could realistically be done whilst the engine was so bad (so how about all the current updates?). Of course the engine is very poor, and yes it is a concern because engine development and lead-times are long (and updates can only be made when permission is granted). But, the chassis was very poor too, the drivers have been complaining, and the team even said approximately half the deficit comes from the chassis, but these facts are glossed over or often not even mentioned at all. The team has a works engine deal, with the company that powered four drivers championships, which were the only ones the Mercedes didn't win in the turbo hybrid engine era. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but don't underestimate Honda. How about wishing them well, and seeing how it goes?
These people are impatient and don't appreciate the process Honda goes through to achieve success, which usually starts with failure.
Hence why I no longer translate or bring new information. I'm looking forward to a talk by former Honda Managing Director Masashi Yamamoto, who was the Honda consultant for RBPT, on the latest Honda F1 developments. He is going to have some interesting things to say, always does.
Too bad, because that's far more reliable than the opinions you otherwise share.
mzso, maybe you can answer this for ispano6: How many Honda Civics would Honda sell if its slogan was, "Please be patient. Appreciate the process Honda goes through to achieve success, which usually starts with failure."?
Or would customers just say, "Hmm... that Toyota Corolla looks pretty good instead."
More nonsense from ispano6.
Yeah, the AMR26 sucked, and in the end there was no excuse for that. That doesn't excuse the RA626H either—it sucked too. I wonder how prepared Honda would have been if failure meant making up for lost advertising revenue from a poor power unit—potentially up to $150 million per year.
Both projects suffered from similar problems: late administrative changes that delayed the technical start of their respective programs.
In Formula 1, just like in car sales, failure costs millions.
It wasn't that the RA626H was just a middle-of-the-pack power unit—something you could accept with a "they're not the best." They've taken bad to a whole different level, and that isn't acceptable.
If I were AMR F1, before going back into business with Honda for the next power unit regulation change, I'd want guarantees (things like continued yearly funding of the PU team and a limit on employee turn over). Otherwise, I'd walk away.
