Honda admits new engine concept is 'high risk'

Honda  has chosen an all new design approach for its 2017 power unit, but the fresh concept isn't without big risks, says Yusuke Hasegawa.

Honda's motorsport boss has chosen to take the high road in Formula 1 this year, in a bid to extricate itself and partner McLaren from the doldrums.

"The concept is completely different," Hasegawa told Autosport.

"It's very high risk, we don't know a lot of things about that new concept. We know it will give us a performance advantage but the biggest risk is whether we can realise that potential this year."

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Honda has focused on its internal combustion engine in the past year, but its redesign obviously involved an engineering upgrade of almost all the power unit's components.

"We need to concentrate on the ICE for this year," he said.

"If we improve the engine itself, which means boosting exhaust gas energy, we need to boost the turbine otherwise we cannot perform at the same level in terms of deployment.

"We still have to do some tests and there will be some trial and error. I hope we have understood the direction and the elements to focus on.

"But it's not easy to combine the elements to realise the improvements on the ICE completely."

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