Honda unsure over second team

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Honda will not actively seek a second team to supply power units to in 2016 as it focuses on its relationship with McLaren.

With Honda returning as power unit supplier this year - rekindling an iconic partnership with McLaren - pre-season has been tough with the MP4-30 completing limited mileage. Asked during an exclusive interview with F1i if supplying a second team this year would have helped Honda progress more quickly, motorsport chief Yasuhisa Arai replied: “We don’t have any offers from any team to be a second team.

"Maybe it’s because they think there’s something a bit mysterious about Honda. They don’t know our base capabilities, but [Friday] it showed them a little bit of our good capability and good feeling. Before that they don’t know, maybe they whisper about ‘that mysterious Honda’.”

And Arai explained that Honda would not seek out a second team to supply next year as he is unsure the engine manufacturer could prepare properly in time.

“If someone comes to us … but it’s a very difficult question because I am wondering can we prepare for supplying a second team during the season? I don’t know. We concentrate on this season with McLaren as one team.”

Click here for the gallery from day four of the second test

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