Honda admits MGU-H will last only two races!

The good news is that Honda can correctly predict when its MGU-H component will fail. The bad news is that it will only last two races.

There were more reliability woes for Honda this weekend in Monaco.

One-off stand-in Jenson Button put in a great effort to qualify P9 yesterday only to be demoted to last because of a turbo and MHU-H change on his Fonda power unit.

The Japanese manufacturer has identified a bearing issue on the component, with new quick fix available.

"Every two races we need to change – that is not acceptable," Honda F1 boss Yusuke Hasegawa told Motorsport.com.

"We think we need to have more modifications for robustness, with the rotating parts especially.

"Currently we are controlling some temperatures or behaviour. We can manage the reliability. This time it did OK [mileage wise], but still we are having some issues for reliability."

Vandoorne undeterred by qualifying crash

Obviously, grid penalties spell disaster for any driver at Monaco. But Honda considered it did not have any other choice but to replace the weak component.

"After running FP2 we normally check every rotation part – engine, MGU-H – and we saw the MGU-H rotating a little bit odd for a normal situation," Hasegawa explained.

"It's not completely strange, but the mechanics felt some friction. When we have a complete MGU-H failure, the MGU-H turbine is completely stuck. Seized. This time there is not such a problem, but the mechanics could feel some resistance.

"We discussed things with the Japanese side and we decide to change on Friday morning.

"That is a 100,000rpm part, and if we feel something strange, it never lasts. It had some chance, but it's not worth it."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.