2016 McLaren F1 Team - Honda

[fellowhoodlums]

Interesting comment on today. "attention hasn't yet turned to assessing outright performance" - add to that the aero package arriving for Jenson then it's all positive.

[nevill3]

A really good interview with JB stating new fuel and oils will give them a boost and the final iteration of the 2016 engine will be available in Melbourne. Also confirmation that new aero packages are on the way too.

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sp ... XgqbQomgE2

[Vasconia]

A really good interview with JB stating new fuel and oils will give them a boost and the final iteration of the 2016 engine will be available in Melbourne. Also confirmation that new aero packages are on the way too.

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sp ... XgqbQomgE2

If they can run normally the last three days and taking into account what Jenson has said, I could feel reasonably optimistic with this season.

[vantage87]

Autosport.com
There’s been lots of interest in how the speed trap figures are looking in testing. Here’s how the drivers stacked up in the main speed trap, situated just before Turn 1, yesterday:

Nasr (Sauber), 346.1km/h
Magnussen (Renault), 341.7km/h
Hamilton (Mercedes), 338.5km/h
Bottas (Williams), 337.5km/h
Haryanto (Manor), 336.4km/h
Verstappen (Toro Rosso), 334.3km/h
Raikkonen (Ferrari), 332.3km/h
Gutierrez (Haas), 331.2km/h
Hulkenberg (Force India), 331.2km/h
Rosberg (Mercedes), 327.2km/h
Alonso (McLaren), 326.2km/h
Kvyat (Red Bull), 322.3km/h

Andrew Benson:
It has been a torrid past year for McLaren and engine partner Honda, but is a light emerging at the end of the tunnel? Fernando Alonso was third fastest on Tuesday. OK, that was still 1.7secs off the Mercedes, but it’s a major step forward from where McLaren were last year.

Dig a little deeper, and the picture continues to look promising. Correcting the times for our best knowledge of fuel and tyres, Alonso was equal fourth quickest with Valtteri Bottas’s Williams, behind the two Mercedes and Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari.

Analyse the sector and speed-trap times and the McLaren chassis continues to look very impressive. Alonso was second fastest to Nico Rosberg in the twisty final sector; third fastest in sector two that comprises the middle part of the lap and the back straight; and recorded the third fastest speed at the first sector line - which is after the 150mph Turn Three and just before the braking for Turn Four.

The engine’s power output is still obviously a problem - the McLaren was slowest of all at the finish line and second slowest at the end of the pit straight. But at least things appear to be going in the right direction.

[Sayeman]

Renault 341.7??? blimey

[Pierce89]

Call me crazy, but I'm actually starting to feel like McHonda has made a legitimate jump up, even if its mostly on the back of a pretty nice chassis, rather than a Honda improving enough to be competitive(they're still behind the Renault PU,ever. Sh!t!!!

[Morteza]

ERIC BOULLIER INTERVIEW: “WHAT WE PROMISED FERNANDO, WE HAVE DELIVERED”

[Sayeman]

New version of PU in melbourne?

[vantage87]

today's test speed trap via f1 official twitter



'Clearly a gain' from Honda update - Eric Boullier
http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/story/_/id/148 ... c-boullier

"There is clearly a gain and it is good to see we have more potential coming," Boullier said on Wednesday. "It's still very early days so we need to put more mileage, and there is more experience to be gained on how to use and exploit this. But so far, for sure, more potential."

On Tuesday Alonso said it was too early to judge the Honda power unit but Boullier admits the Spaniard was much more positive in the feedback he gave the team.

"His first comment was he was happy, he could feel a difference -- compared to last year and compared to last week, actually. The comparison was straight forward and he was clearly happier. He will also be happier tomorrow, I guess, because we have been doing some mapping work since yesterday and the engine is better and better and better. But it is step by step because there is some reliability issue if you go too fast and too far."

Jenson Button: New Honda engine biggest step forward in 14 months
http://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view/ ... 14_months/

[CjC]

Those speed trap figures aren't to be sniffed at!

[Jef Patat]

121 laps

[bauc]

121 laps

Yep, we need 2 more days like this and we will be in decent shape for the first race

[KingHamilton01]

Clear to see a lot of people wrote of McLaren to early because of 2 poor day's testing, the speed trap figure gives a lot of reason for optimism along with the fact they are still going to be pushing aero and PU right up until Melbourne. They won't be at the front but the midfield is looking very interesting indeed!

[Del Boy]

Those speed trap figures aren't to be sniffed at!

Well they aren't great when you comparing the highest speed is from a 2015 Ferrari PU. Unless your feeling very optimistic and assume the boost pressure and electrical usage is all turned down in the name of reliability, whereas the Sauber Ferrari is turned up as high as it goes. I also read the McHonda ran low downforce set up???

[kaepernickus]

Those speed trap figures aren't to be sniffed at!

Well they aren't great when you comparing the highest speed is from a 2015 Ferrari PU. Unless your feeling very optimistic and assume the boost pressure and electrical usage is all turned down in the name of reliability, whereas the Sauber Ferrari is turned up as high as it goes. I also read the McHonda ran low downforce set up???

Sauber is using a 2016 engine.
They ran 2015 car last week, now they are running 2016 car + 2016 engine.

Only STR will use 2015 Ferrari engines during this season.