Honda boosts prospects with engine overhaul

Honda's 2017 power unit has been specifically redesigned following the lessons and experience gained in the last two seasons.

The Japanese manufacture and McLaren partner's return to the pinnacle of motorsport in 2015 was marked by hardship and hard knocks.

Following Woking's demands, Honda had implemented an architecture for its V6 based on an extremely tightly packed unit, a choice which led to many ill-effects although substantial progress was achieved in 2016.

According to McLaren technical director Tim Goss, Honda has revised its approach for 2017 with the aim of sustaining its push forward initiated last year.

"The token system that was applied to engine development for the past few seasons has been discontinued. For 2017, the Honda engine architecture and layout have been altered to serve both for performance and packaging needs.

"The new power unit takes much of the learning from the past two seasons, but has been specifically redesigned for this season."

• 2017 regs ‘likely’ to change F1 pecking order - McLaren

Goss also said he is hopeful the 2017 chassis rule changes are an opportunity for McLaren-Honda to catch up.

"This season's changes rank as some of the most significant we've ever had in the sport. That's likely to change the competition order -- because it's such a big disturbance."

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