did anybody else notice this? The windtunnel was out of cal? Years ago, the guy I used for my head work also do work for Honda among other OEMs- he was really good. Anyway, his heads always made more hp than anything the honda techs could do, they couldn't even copy this guys heads and have them work quite as well. So Honda decides to build a replica of this guys shop over in Japan, from the home made flow bench right down to the floor tile brand and color, even the wall facing the same direction, an exact copy....which of course didnt help them any with their hp problem, but I thought it was a great story to go with this article. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2007/8/6624.html Hondas Rubens Barrichello has revealed that the Japanese teams poor performance this season may have stemmed from an incorrectly calibrated wind tunnel. Barrichello, who is yet to score a point in 2007, is hopeful that the squad will see better results within the next month. The Brazilian recently visited Hondas UK headquarters in Brackley and met up with new technical signings, ex-Williams chief aerodynamicist Loic Bigois and former BMW Sauber employee John Owen. The pair admitted to Barrichello that they suspected errors in the tunnel's set-up could be largely to blame for the RA107s lack of pace. They believe that our wind tunnels calibration is wrong and because of that everything that has been developed has not been effective, explained Barrichello on his official website. We will have to change many things, even parts of the structure inside the wind tunnel, and it will be about a month until we are able to see changes. Barrichello's factory visit came shortly before he endured his toughest race yet for Honda at the recent Hungarian Grand Prix, where the 35 year-old finished 18th and last behind the Spyker of Adrian Sutil. However, with a solution now in sight, he is optimistic that an upswing in performance is on the cards for this season and the next. The best thing is that for us to be sure that next years car will be good we need to change this years car to know if the changes are going in the right direction, he added. Im sure they are, they have to be! Honda have scored just one point this season and are currently ninth in the standings, behind the Honda-engined Super Aguri team
Perhaps they shouldn't have demoted Geoff Willis, knowing he would leave. Instead they brought in a Suit from Japan with no F1 Experience.
Many things are wrong at Honda. The miscalibrated wind tunnel is just one of them. Nick Fry is a moron and doesn't know what he is doing. They're hiring and firing people with no concept. The current "eco" car is a disaster marketing and sponsorwise. In the midst of this chaos they just announced that Rubens and Jenson will be their drivers for 08. That's kinda funny, because they both have valid contracts, so it seems the team is more worried, that these two might get cold feet.
This mis-calculation of the wind tunnel has been thought to be the true issue since after the first race. But, Fry denied it as it would have shown his incompetence. I think we'd never have found out that it was truly the case if Rubens not said so. They certainly aren't going to fire him for saying it.
They have gone slowly down hill since Dave Richards left at the end of 04 I think (andreas)? and Nick fry got promoted. Thought they may have got it together by now but they have never been as bad shame... David Richards is working on a deal to buy Aston Martin. http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns18053.html
+1...I totally agree I guess rubens just found his way of NOT getting sacked...the real reazon behind signing Barichello is the OBVIOUS technology transfer...legal, and expected. FRY IS A MORON.
If this is true, and it is a major cause, someone in charge of it has to be horsewhipped. Then procede to those that knew and said nothing. Continue till morale improves This still doesnt account for lack of physical grip or HP.
You're right about 2004, but Richards buying Aston Martin is a bit outdated: He has until September to find $$$ for his Prodrive F1 team. Most likely he won't be able to come up with the cash and that puts him in serious trouble as the FIA will fine him big time if he can't put his McLaren B team together for 08. But wait, there is Nicolas Todt to the rescue: He has lots of $$$ from Arabia to start his own F1 team. I'm sure he'll buy the Prodrive leftovers for a discount from Richards. How funny is that gonna be: Jean Todt's Ferraris will compete against Nicolas Todt's McLarens...
hey, things could be worse. McLaren is catching all the blame for the Ferrari info that would have been winging it's way in Hondas direction had the planned new employees not been so careless as to get caught... ian
Well thats one way of looking at it... Button I feel sorry for ploughing his own money into a team that gone down the pan. Theres only one place to go now up or pack up ..
Things could be better if the Ferrari info had found its way to Honda had the planned new employees not been so careless as to get caught... Seriously, if they had been less sloppy, they could have designed a Ferrari clone Honda for 08 and nobody would have known a thing. Just read a comprehensive review of Stepneygate: Stepney actually offered Honda not just himself and Coughlan, but also several technicians from Ferrari who were willing to jump ship. It would have been a big knowhow transfer and absolutely legal. PS: Stepney earned 1.5 million at Ferrari and wanted 8 from Honda. Talk about greed.
The robbing bast@rd... in more than one sense of the word. Ended up with nowt but a law suit justice prevailed..
For some reason, i think Barri is regretting like hell in what would be his worst decision ever. at least at Ferrari, he won a handful of races, and could have won a couple more. but now at Honda, not only he's driving a City, he's also challenging the Spykers at the tail end of the grid....
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=32435 Yes it seems Honda is still trying to cover up its incompetence. Ruben's comments on the wind tunnel miscalibration being the reason for poor pace and it's correction leading to increased pace in about a month has been removed from his web site. I guess they won't be making any improvements after all. P.S. PitPass was threatened with legal action by Honda when they had made the claims earlier in the year. I suppose the same forces are at work against Rubens.
