Honda changes engine development process

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Following correlation issues between its dyno and track evaluations, Honda has changed its development and evaluation approach.

Persistent reliability and performance troubles have once again undermined McLaren-Honda's results this year, putting the partnership between the two manufacturer's in jeopardy.

Honda F1 boss Yusuke Hasegawa believes the new process, which relies less on dyno testing to evaluate components, will lead to more efficient development going forward.

"We are changing our way of development," Hasegawa told Motorsport.com.

"We're not too much insisting on mono-cylinder [dyno] development.

"We can check factors or elements or many concepts with the mono-cylinder [block] but we now understand we need to check with the V6 to finalise our specification.

"So we are no longer relying too much on the mono-cylinder results. As a reference, the mono cylinder test is important but to find the performance, we need to check the V6 results."

Collapse of Sauber deal 'very bad' for Honda - Hasegawa

At the center of many of Honda's failures this season has been its MGU-H element. But an update implemented at Silverstone may have finally solved the part's weakness.

"The MGU-H failure took a very long time to solve," said Hasegawa.

"We had many small issues in the engine - and that area is difficult to understand on the dyno.

"We are about to solve that [MGU-H] issue, we just need to confirm on the circuit. But the MGU-H specification we have introduced includes solutions for the problem so I believe it's OK."

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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.