On this day 5 years ago: The tragedy of Fernando Alonso's radio outburst in Honda's home race at Suzuka Circuit

[theriusDR3]

Alonso was overtaken by Verstappen Jr. during 2015 Japanese Grand Prix.

Fernando Alonso was left frustated with a Honda engine by offending and mocking Honda engine "This is embarrasing...." and "GP2 engine...... GP2...... Aaarghhh!!!!!!" at Honda's home race in Suzuka Circuit back in 2015. After the outburst tragedy, Alonso was officially banned to drive Honda-powered racing cars in any auto racing tournaments after 2017.

[Ringleheim]

Remember when the Honda name was made of solid gold in F1? When they were untouchable? Innovators? The best?

They haven't been that way for nearly 30 years now.

[coaster]

Ferrari are no better these days, ship happens, big deal. At least Vettel was silent in frustration.

[JordanMugen]

When they were untouchable? Innovators? The best?

The Honda 1.5V6TT series was boringly conventional, it even used a cast-iron block.

More than anything else, the highly conservative nature of Honda’s [RA168E] design stands out. The RA168E displays no devilishly ingenious features, nor any parts fashioned from ‘unobtanium’ or exotic materials, as had been rumoured. In fact, the block is made from plain old cast iron.

In valve design Honda also took a conservative approach. ...There are no desmodromic actions, no torsion bars nor pneumatic springs; four valves per cylinder are used with each valve being closed in the familiar manner by a pair of concentric springs.

Combustion chamber design is also conservative with compactness, (and hence good burning) and fuel economy is its a primary objective. Following the fashion set by Ferrari twenty years ago, the valves are rather small and arranged at an included angle of 32 degrees, the same angle that was first used on the Cosworth DFV two decades ago. ...From the point of view of valve gear and combustion chamber design then, the cylinder head of this engine is quite unremarkable.

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/arch ... nda-ra168e


^ Just an utterly dull, but properly executed, conventional engine.

The more innovative Honda motors, like the below 500cc GP class four-stroke 48-valve oval-piston V4 fell in the category of "aargh Moto2 engine", which is fine, it's ok to a build a four-stroke V8 then convert it to a four-stroke V4, because of a maximum 4 cylinder rule apparently targeting your intended V8, and then have a total failure of an engine.

[coaster]

Fonz can bite my crankhandle.

[gshevlin]

https://i.redd.it/g3kq7vxkvo831.jpg
Alonso was overtaken by Verstappen Jr. during 2015 Japanese Grand Prix.

Fernando Alonso was left frustated with a Honda engine by offending and mocking Honda engine "This is embarrasing...." and "GP2 engine...... GP2...... Aaarghhh!!!!!!" at Honda's home race in Suzuka Circuit back in 2015. After the outburst tragedy, Alonso was officially banned to drive Honda-powered racing cars in any auto racing tournaments after 2017.

That outburst may mean that Fernando Alonso will never win the Indianapolis 500. He now has only one choice of engine supplier.

[214270]

One of my fav bits of F1 theatre. I loved every bit of this & the fallout that ensued. What a way to stick the knife in...short, concise & a hammer blow. Alonso is a master

[hUirEYExbN]

https://i.redd.it/g3kq7vxkvo831.jpg
Alonso was overtaken by Verstappen Jr. during 2015 Japanese Grand Prix.

Fernando Alonso was left frustated with a Honda engine by offending and mocking Honda engine "This is embarrasing...." and "GP2 engine...... GP2...... Aaarghhh!!!!!!" at Honda's home race in Suzuka Circuit back in 2015. After the outburst tragedy, Alonso was officially banned to drive Honda-powered racing cars in any auto racing tournaments after 2017.

That outburst may mean that Fernando Alonso will never win the Indianapolis 500. He now has only one choice of engine supplier.

He ran pretty close to the front in 2017 at Indy undre Honda power, 2 years after he made those comments. I doubt the Honda Indy people care about his past comments in F1, certainly not 5 years later on.

Working with Toyota in WEC probably forced him towards Chevrolet for his 2019 and 2020 attempts.

[PlatinumZealot]

Not sure if this is worth a thread on its own! But Alonso's outburst had a good side. That embarrassment energized Honda in making things right.

[siskue2005]

https://i.redd.it/g3kq7vxkvo831.jpg
Alonso was overtaken by Verstappen Jr. during 2015 Japanese Grand Prix.

Fernando Alonso was left frustated with a Honda engine by offending and mocking Honda engine "This is embarrasing...." and "GP2 engine...... GP2...... Aaarghhh!!!!!!" at Honda's home race in Suzuka Circuit back in 2015. After the outburst tragedy, Alonso was officially banned to drive Honda-powered racing cars in any auto racing tournaments after 2017.

That outburst may mean that Fernando Alonso will never win the Indianapolis 500. He now has only one choice of engine supplier.

He ran pretty close to the front in 2017 at Indy undre Honda power, 2 years after he made those comments. I doubt the Honda Indy people care about his past comments in F1, certainly not 5 years later on.

Working with Toyota in WEC probably forced him towards Chevrolet for his 2019 and 2020 attempts.

No, it is clearly documented. Andretti team wanted Alonso in this years' race and Honda blocked that move and Alonso could nt get the seat. They gave that seat to some nobody

They allowed him to race in 2017 because he already was a McLaren Honda driver on that year, so they are obliged to give a seat for their driver when Mclaren put up a Indy car with Andretti and Honda engines

[Scorpaguy]

Not sure if this is worth a thread on its own! But Alonso's outburst had a good side. That embarrassment energized Honda in making things right.

...then maybe we can get Fred to drive/chastise the Ferarri

[joshuagore]

Not sure if this is worth a thread on its own! But Alonso's outburst had a good side. That embarrassment energized Honda in making things right.

...then maybe we can get Fred to drive/chastise the Ferarri

Doesn't work on the shameless.

[Andres125sx]

The funny thing about all this is Alonso got the focus, instead of Honda because of manufacturing probably the worst F1 engine I´ve ever seen. There have been poor engines in F1, but one wich lacks so much perfomance and at the same time so much reliability? I can´t remember any in past 20-30 years

Honda didn´t deliver, actually they were so far from delivering that they´d have been fired in their very first year if changing PU manufacturer was easier in F1

[ispano6]

No, it is clearly documented. Andretti team wanted Alonso in this years' race and Honda blocked that move and Alonso could nt get the seat. They gave that seat to some nobody

They allowed him to race in 2017 because he already was a McLaren Honda driver on that year, so they are obliged to give a seat for their driver when Mclaren put up a Indy car with Andretti and Honda engines

Alonso has crashed on multiple Indy 500 runs prior to the race and didn't even make the cut in qualifying last year.

Sato has won it twice since Alonso started attempting the 500. Alonso hitched a Lemans win with Toyota and is now back with Renault. Doubt he will be powered by Honda anytime soon.

[ispano6]

Remember when the Honda name was made of solid gold in F1? When they were untouchable? Innovators? The best?

They haven't been that way for nearly 30 years now.

Totally wrong.

You must not be paying attention to other racing categories like moto gp, indy 500, DPi, GT3, TCR.

Honda and Acura have been winning championships.

They powered Alpha Tauri to their first win in their first year as a reborn team and also delivered them a Honda Jet. Do you know anything about that Jet?