When you buy the PU from Honda it comes with support. They do say "In terms of power and performance, we may not improve anything". This in my opinion is "Maintaining" engineering. There is no huge R&D behind it. What they can do is limited.AR3-GP wrote: ↑04 Nov 2023, 18:44We have discussed this at length! The manufacturers have been driving london buses through the regulations and Renault approved it! It's not all about 2026. Manufacturers still want to win NOW. Remember that the engine development is budget capped and manufacturers had more resources than that already:diffuser wrote: ↑04 Nov 2023, 18:27By definition, ERS is limited to 160HP, so your gains are gonna be on efficiency. Also, they're biggest impediment to making any changes is that Alpine has to approve them as "reliability" updates. The FIA really depend on the PU Manufacturers to police each other. So you're changes there were probably software related. Why would Honda be taking $$$ from the 2026 project to help RBR who dropped them? Remember Honda owns the IP. That's hardware and software. RBR can't touch that PU. That and Honda moved everybody out of the project in 2021. They brought some back for the 2026 project but alot of the people have changed. They, like most, just have maintaining engineering staff left on the current PU. Pretty sure that the PU budget is capped now. Just don't remember when the CAP went into effect. If it is in effect, spending money from the 2026 project to make improvements on a dead project isn't wise. That's probably why Alpine want the fuel increase, it doesn't steal resources from the 2026 project.
Honda is improving the PU for next year, direct from Honda: https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/239287/h ... -2024.html
This is direct from Koji Watanabe at Honda on improvements that Ferrari and Mercedes made last winter and Honda will again make improvement for RB in 2024.
RB pays Honda for services. That's why Honda still work for them. Also, what Honda learn now on the track benefits 2026. RB is helping them as much as they help RB."In terms of power and performance, we may not improve anything, but in other areas we can also make strides with this engine. At Ferrari, for example, they have developed the engine considerably and Mercedes' ERS system (Energy Recovery, ed.) is also very strong. We will also improve our engine for next year in terms of its longevity. So there is definitely something in the pipeline," Watanabe informed.
Notice the words they use "considerably", "make strides", "something in the pipeline". Next thing they gonna say is "it's gonna be beautiful, it's gonna be perfect!".
