Rumormill: Honda building an F1 engine

freshmeat · #1 02-26-2013, 05:00 PM

Ho ho ho, lets rock n roll.

From motorsport-total.com

Quote:

Honda may already be working on a formula one project for 2014.

When revealing its all-new turbo V6 ’power unit’ for next year near Paris on Monday, Renault’s Jean-Michel Jalinier said he "definitely" expects more engine makers to enter F1 under the 2014 rules.

"That’s why the number of our customers will fall in the future," he is quoted by German website motorsport-total.com, "because there are more competitors."

Honda, the Japanese marque that pulled out of F1 at the end of 2008 due to the global financial crisis, could be one such competitor.

The German-language Speed Week reports that Frenchman Gilles Simon, Ferrari’s engine boss during the ultra-successful Jean Todt era, could already be working with Honda.

After leaving Ferrari, Simon worked for the FIA, but most recently he has been designing a turbo V6 for Craig Pollock’s intended 2014 F1 supplier Pure.

But with Pollock’s plans now collapsed, Speed Week reports that British sources suspect the newly UK-based Simon could be working on a F1 engine for Honda.

For its last F1 foray, Honda was based at Brackley, which is now the headquarters for Mercedes’ similarly Ross Brawn-led works team.

**Ferraripilot** · #2 02-26-2013, 05:05 PM

I actually heard Honda already has an engine.

Honda/Mclaren anyone?

pamparius · #3 02-26-2013, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferraripilot

I actually heard Honda already has an engine.

Honda/Mclaren anyone?

+ the old livery. oh that would be beautiful.

freshmeat · #4 02-26-2013, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pamparius

+ the old livery. oh that would be beautiful.

I believe the old livery was more of a Marlboro | McLaren thing, but yes, it is beautiful by most of today's cars on the grid.

**VIZSLA** · #5 02-26-2013, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferraripilot

I actually heard Honda already has an engine.

Honda/Mclaren anyone?

Given the relationship between Macca and Merc these days...

**GuyIncognito** · #6 02-26-2013, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VIZSLA

Given the relationship between Macca and Merc these days...

Honda/McLaren does make a lot of sense...

fluque · #7 02-26-2013, 07:01 PM

Interesting for the memories but will the Honda engine be any good, how good was it when the team was still around?

It's been 20+ years since they had a successful run with McLaren and Williams.

**rdefabri** · #8 02-26-2013, 07:13 PM

They already make a turbo V6 for Indy Car. And while this would be completely different, I'm sure they can glean information and learn from what they've done with that platform.

fluque · #9 02-26-2013, 07:18 PM

Hopefully they do. Engine supplier may be the right angle for Honda in F1 as long as they keep Mugen out of the picture.

**VIZSLA** · #10 02-26-2013, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fluque

Interesting for the memories but will the Honda engine be any good, how good was it when the team was still around?

It's been 20+ years since they had a successful run with McLaren and Williams.

Times change but in the day they were as good as it got.

**Fast_ian** · #11 02-26-2013, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VIZSLA

Times change but in the day they were as good as it got.

+1

They certainly did some good motors over the years.

In fact, seems to me the 'big guys' make much better engine suppliers than team owners.....

Fer sure, Ron would love to have Honda back in the game. I believe he's gotta pay Merc next (this?) year....... I guess Honda would come for free.....

Cheers,
Ian

IntelligentOperator · #12 02-27-2013, 04:45 AM

Not sure Button would be too enthusiastic

**VIZSLA** · #13 02-27-2013, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fast_ian

+1

They certainly did some good motors over the years.

In fact, seems to me the 'big guys' make much better engine suppliers than team owners.....

Fer sure, Ron would love to have Honda back in the game. I believe he's gotta pay Merc next (this?) year....... I guess Honda would come for free.....

Cheers,
Ian

Help me out here.
Weren't they trying to squeeze the big automakers out of F1 not so long ago?

jcosta79 · #14 02-27-2013, 08:19 AM

Are they planning on putting a V6 into the new NSX? Perhaps they can justify the venture by saying it is based on that power-plant?

TifosiUSA · #15 02-27-2013, 08:23 AM

Good. As I've been saying for AGES, Mercedes should pull the rug out from McLaren if they're serious about championships.

**Ferraripilot** · #16 02-27-2013, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TifosiUSA

Good. As I've been saying for AGES, Mercedes should pull the rug out from McLaren if they're serious about championships.

You da man, I partially agree with you.

Just like Ferrari enjoy having customer engines for R&D, Mercedes enjoy it to a certain extent as well. However, I do not think they need to power their primary competition such as Mclaren, Force India though is of course fine the same as the Ferrari/Sauber relationship.

TifosiUSA · #17 02-27-2013, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferraripilot

Just like Ferrari enjoy having customer engines for R&D, Mercedes enjoy it to a certain extent as well. However, I do not think they need to power their primary competition such as Mclaren, Force India though is of course fine the same as the Ferrari/Sauber relationship.

+1

Definitely agree. I think supplying FI is fine but supplying a big rival and perennially fast team with your own engine doesn't make sense to me. Also, any advantage MB gets for 2014 will be gone for 2015 as by then the customers will have experience with the engine and will be able to "design their car around it" like MB plans to do for 2014. Better to sever ties now...

**VIZSLA** · #18 02-27-2013, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TifosiUSA

+1

Definitely agree. I think supplying FI is fine but supplying a big rival and perennially fast team with your own engine doesn't make sense to me. Also, any advantage MB gets for 2014 will be gone for 2015 as by then the customers will have experience with the engine and will be able to "design their car around it" like MB plans to do for 2014. Better to sever ties now...

I follow the logic but its " in the interest of F1" to have a viable McLaren team and in the interest of MB to keep F1 happy.
If MB didn't provide motors to Macca Renault would. Better for MB to have its name on a potential WC car than not.

**Ferraripilot** · #19 02-27-2013, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TifosiUSA

+1

Definitely agree. I think supplying FI is fine but supplying a big rival and perennially fast team with your own engine doesn't make sense to me. Also, any advantage MB gets for 2014 will be gone for 2015 as by then the customers will have experience with the engine and will be able to "design their car around it" like MB plans to do for 2014. Better to sever ties now...

I also look at this as Mercedes' very first occasion since the '50s to build a 100% for-Mercedes car. Merc has had their new unit running and on the dyno forever now so they should already be knee deep with 2014 car development. Exciting stuff

**Fast_ian** · #20 02-27-2013, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VIZSLA

Help me out here.
Weren't they trying to squeeze the big automakers out of F1 not so long ago?

Define "they"....... I don't think we'll ever hear the "true" stories. But, my take is Mad Max didn't like their "power" and they certainly didn't like his ridiculous "budget cap" proposals ($30MM!

). That was why BMW quit IMO. The Japanese two blamed the economy but I still reckon they got tired of outspending everyone and getting no where - They quit with their tales between their legs IMO.

I don't think, but again could be wrong, that Bernie wanted them gone though. He may have pissed 'em off (who hasn't he pissed off over the years?) by not giving them "preferential" treatment, but I don't think he's the reason they took their ball and went home.....

Cheers,
Ian