2019 Aston Martin Red Bull Racing - Honda F1 Team

[dxpetrov]

Poor starts - mainly engine issue.

https://www.verstappen.nl/en/article/3805/

"Verstappen got poorly off the line during the race at Spa-Francorchamps, causing him to drop back a few places. Max explains how the starts generally take place: “We have a certain procedure which needs to be as steady as possible. I have been doing that for four years now at Red Bull, but we are struggling this year to keep the wheel spin steady. There is even a difference with every engine. So it’s always a mystery if it will be okay or not. This year it’s gone wrong quite some time, so we very well know what we need to work on. At this moment, we haven’t been able to keep it steady yet.”

According to the youngster, it also has to do more with the power unit itself than it has to do with the driver: “Looking at the entire season, we were the second best team regarding the starts last year. The year before that also, so I really don’t think that we are suddenly unable to do a good start. The procedure with the clutch is the same. We are talking millimeters here, it’s that precise. But apart from that, it’s still always unknown how the engine will handle your input. Sometimes there can be a delay or vice versa. How aggressively the clutch is set can also be controlled by the team. I just need to focus on following the same procedure every time, but you are also dependent on things that are also involved with it.”

Can starts be practiced and do you need to practice it? “You can try out a lot during testing and Honda is currently busy with that. They can see things that need to be improved, but it takes time. That is because it has to do with some characteristics of the engine.”

I don't agree with this being a Honda issue, Why don't the other 3 Honda power cars have these inconsistent starts ?

There is nothing for you to agree or not. It's explained, what else do you need?! Lets not go into ''inventing hot water again''...
Other cars also have inconsistent starts, just nobody pays attention to them as they are far back the grid.

[GhostF1]

Poor starts - mainly engine issue.

https://www.verstappen.nl/en/article/3805/

"Verstappen got poorly off the line during the race at Spa-Francorchamps, causing him to drop back a few places. Max explains how the starts generally take place: “We have a certain procedure which needs to be as steady as possible. I have been doing that for four years now at Red Bull, but we are struggling this year to keep the wheel spin steady. There is even a difference with every engine. So it’s always a mystery if it will be okay or not. This year it’s gone wrong quite some time, so we very well know what we need to work on. At this moment, we haven’t been able to keep it steady yet.”

According to the youngster, it also has to do more with the power unit itself than it has to do with the driver: “Looking at the entire season, we were the second best team regarding the starts last year. The year before that also, so I really don’t think that we are suddenly unable to do a good start. The procedure with the clutch is the same. We are talking millimeters here, it’s that precise. But apart from that, it’s still always unknown how the engine will handle your input. Sometimes there can be a delay or vice versa. How aggressively the clutch is set can also be controlled by the team. I just need to focus on following the same procedure every time, but you are also dependent on things that are also involved with it.”

Can starts be practiced and do you need to practice it? “You can try out a lot during testing and Honda is currently busy with that. They can see things that need to be improved, but it takes time. That is because it has to do with some characteristics of the engine.”

I don't agree with this being a Honda issue, Why don't the other 3 Honda power cars have these inconsistent starts ?

There is nothing for you to agree or not. It's explained, what else do you need?! Lets not go into ''inventing hot water again''...
Other cars also have inconsistent starts, just nobody pays attention to them as they are far back the grid.

Agreed, the other drivers don't have any focus on them at all during the start, only Max up the front. So no one has been critical about them. Honda say there is a characteristic of the engine causing wheelspin at launch that they are working on, so it's obviously at least partially the PU's fault. They'll fix it, and if that's their worst issue, I'll take that..

[Marti_EF3]

If they want to finish the season with 4 engine,maybe they will use Spec2 or Spec3 to race at Monza again.

At monza one spec 4 change at friday and one more for sunday. 1 race penalty and two power units in the pocket is more logical for me.

I think only 1 PU can be added to the pool at the same weekend for every car

[nzjrs]

All Albon overtakes. Excellent!

[Marti_EF3]

Race Pace of SPA

[Datco]

I don't agree with this being a Honda issue, Why don't the other 3 Honda power cars have these inconsistent starts ?

There is nothing for you to agree or not. It's explained, what else do you need?! Lets not go into ''inventing hot water again''...
Other cars also have inconsistent starts, just nobody pays attention to them as they are far back the grid.

Agreed, the other drivers don't have any focus on them at all during the start, only Max up the front. So no one has been critical about them. Honda say there is a characteristic of the engine causing wheelspin at launch that they are working on, so it's obviously at least partially the PU's fault. They'll fix it, and if that's their worst issue, I'll take that..

Yeah, launches will combination of PU, drive train (gearbox, diff etc) , suspension, tyres. They need all this to work in harmony. What worked last year may not work this year if one or more elements changed. They need to work on this as a works team else they will end up severely compromising one element.

[gokarter]

I also think the starts are mainly an engine issue. i hope they fix this because it has hurt them a lot this season.

[NL_Fer]

Driver can only decide rpm and bite point. It has be the engine to deliver a constant torque at the pick-up.

Once the clutch has been released, the engine drops in rpm, the ECU has to deal with that.

[Jaisonas]

Its a honda so there's no power/torque down low, only high where the vtec kicks in :p
/s
Memes aside, low rpm power is something i think honda lacks atm. I remember Max doing most of his starts last year on 2nd gear with the renault and this year its all 1rst gear starts with wheelspin.

[Marti_EF3]

Kvyat start was pretty good with the Spec 4. And he had to avoid Sainz who got stuck. He overtaked Albon and someone else, and Albon started good too

[loner]

If they want to finish the season with 4 engine,maybe they will use Spec2 or Spec3 to race at Monza again.

i say this is highly likely.

[Wouter]

Kvyat start was pretty good with the Spec 4. And he had to avoid Sainz who got stuck. He overtaked Albon and someone else, and Albon started good too

Albon said he hadn't had a good start. Same problem as Max.

[Marti_EF3]

Kvyat start was pretty good with the Spec 4. And he had to avoid Sainz who got stuck. He overtaked Albon and someone else, and Albon started good too

Albon said he hadn't had a good start. Same problem as Max.

At least was better than Max from the onboard, and had Sainz just in front

[Alexf1]

If they want to finish the season with 4 engine,maybe they will use Spec2 or Spec3 to race at Monza again.

i say this is highly likely.

Looking at the ORF interview with Marko I remember him saying that Albon didnt use the new engine in the race because they thought they didnt need the power benefit it brought when starting from the back. With P5 almost a minute down on Vettel he proved to be right so I expect the same strategy for Max in Monza. And maybe even using spec2 and/or 3 again in Sochi weekend so they minimize milage on spec4 until Suzuka and let RB finish season with this spec 4 unit. TR can take spec 5 in final race so TR team is allowed to use spec 5 in post season test.

[NL_Fer]

Why sacrifice Sochi? In current form, i don’t believe RB will that bad there. Max’ spec3 is dead and spec2 is not very good also.