Hello, long time reader, first time poster.
First, many thanks to everyone on the forum. I enjoy your discussions, technical insights and "insider" stories.
I understand the team efforts to improve the car, aero, chassis and engine, and I don't have high expectations. But, when I saw Spa's qualifying and the first 5 laps, I was motivated to register and write the first post.
There's huge discrepancy between the relative aero/chassis performances and the relative engine performance. It's amazing how much of a miscommunication there is between those teams. Moreover, I'm very surprised with the quality of information originating from the engine side. It was evident during the testing, ahead of the season, and it continues to be since then. I was expecting the team to learn from the testing debacle, regroup, and develop the car in unisone.
As a japanese project management alumni, I'm dissapointed with the Honda F1 team management. I cannot fathom the level of miscommunication and planning, and the failure to deliver the promised milestones. Knowing the japanese culture and the knowledge they have, I expect changes in the management very soon.
On the other hand, I'm very dissapointed with the McLaren F1 team senior management, who are failing to maintain the image of the team, contain the dissatisfaction, and focus on productive improvements. They should keep the team members on a short leash, including Alonso, stay professional even in times on adversity, and work quietly in the background to improve the situation.
I hope everything will change when we get more engine performance from Honda, but as we can see from the Red Bull example, problems will not go away. So, be transparent to your partners, explain the problems in respectable manner, make improvement plan together and deliver as promissed.
Until then, let's enjoy Alonso's passes at Spa
