Tanabe's interview
https://www.as-web.jp/f1/687604?all
──It looks like very cold here.
Tanabe TD: It's very cold. It's starting to rain now. It's going to be a weekend about 5 degrees lower than last year. It may rain on Sunday.
The first race had some positive points such as getting pole position, but at the very end we lost win. We also had trouble. I hope that everything will work properly and I will be ready for this race. Bahrain is the first race with the new PU. so I've been reviewing the all things and considering how to use it in this weekend's race.
── In Bahrain, Sergio Perez (Red Bull Honda) stopped before reaching the grid, Perez and Pierre exchanged CE and ES,so various troubles occurred.
Tanabe TD: Perez has an electrical problem that has been resolved by investigating the cause. We will use the one used in the race this time. We are taking measures to address these issues so that they will not happen again. Regarding ES, Pierre has some things that are okay and some things that are not good, so we lost one set. Perez's ES is okay and will be used after the next race.
──Dr. Marko commented that he was running with reduced power due to heat problems in the opening round. Was it an ICE (engine body) issue, or was it a hybrid-related issue?
Tanabe TD: It was a little more complicated than a heat problem, and we concerned about reliability, so we changed the ICE settings and as a result we ran the race with a little less power. Changes ICE settings during the race are not allowed by the rules, but its OK when it was reliability related and it had been approved by the FIA after the race.
──After changing it, you continued to run in that mode?
Tanabe TD: Yes. Once you change it, you can't go back according to the rules.
──Is it good news for Honda to be able to compete with Mercedes?
Tanabe TD: The tire conditions were different, but it wasn't a situation where I couldn't fight at all. However, I think it's a little difficult to be happy(when you lose a win).
──Wouldn't it have been easier to win without the PU problem?
Tanabe TD: No, that would be another matter. As for the condition of the tires, Max ran out on Turn 4 and ran out of tires there. Its meaningless to talk about this thing. Anyway, it was a shame as a result of the race.
──Is there any report that you said that you will go more aggressive this weekend?
Tanabe TD: No,just follow the plan as usual. However,this is a home race of AlphaTauri(only 15km to factory), so its also like the home race for Honda members. I feel very enthusiastic.
──I think Imola is a fairly power circuit when you look at the engine full throttle rate, but do you rank in the top three?
Tanabe TD: No, i dont think so. Not so much if you compared to Azerbaijan and Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium). But yeah its a high power sensitivity track of course.
