McLaren Honda Has Used Up Five Engines Already In 2017

Having to use at least five Formula 1 power units during the first four-day test of the 2017 season isn’t exactly encouraging for McLaren and Honda
McLaren Honda Has Used Up Five Engines Already In 2017

The 2017 F1 season didn’t get off to the best start for McLaren, Honda and the pair’s lovechild - the orange-liveried MCL32.

Yep, that’s because a number of engine problems plagued the McLaren team during the first four-day test of the season in Spain, limiting running for Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne.

In fact, things were so bad, the BBC reports McLaren got through at least five Honda engines during the test. Let’s just remind ourselves of the fact that the rules say only four engines can be used during the entire season.

McLaren Honda Has Used Up Five Engines Already In 2017

So, it’s hardly surprising Honda is said to be worried about reliability of its extensively redesigned and restructured V6 turbo power unit.

McLaren was hit with an oil tank problem after just one lap on the first day of testing, leading to an engine change. Fast forward to day two and the MCL32 was already on its third engine, and that then had to be changed during the session.

McLaren Honda Has Used Up Five Engines Already In 2017

Running was smoother on the final two days and the car actually got to run quite a few laps, but according to the BBC a fifth engine was needed during that time.

Naturally, a Honda spokesperson wasn’t keen to comment on the number of engines, but it seems there is an air of mystery around the cause of some of these engine failures.

That doesn’t bode well for the next test, let alone the season, with Honda not sure which specification of engine it will run after so many issues at the first test.

McLaren Honda Has Used Up Five Engines Already In 2017

Honda F1 boss Yusuke Hasegawa told Spanish TV station Movistar:

“The mechanical issue, I don’t know enough yet to be confident about that. Of course, I worry about that.”

It hasn’t impacted McLaren and Honda’s relationship though, apparently:

“In the tests, of course, this is a stage we need to overcome a lot of trouble. So sometimes we need to argue or we need to have constructive discussion, but I think we are doing a very good job and we have a very good relationship.”

Let’s hope the second test goes well for McLaren and Honda - that orange livery certainly looks cool out on track. Cars will be back at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from the 7-10 March.

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Comments

Anonymous

How many Km’s did they run during those 4 days? 500?

03/05/2017 - 13:51 |
0 | 0
Monty4248

Can’t they funnel their efforts to endurance racing for like a year and enter lemans. Then go back to f1? (I just really wanna see mclaren in IMSA and going at it in LeMans…)

03/05/2017 - 15:49 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

Vtec kicked in yo!

03/05/2017 - 16:32 |
0 | 1
LEAFBWOAHER

honestly they should just cut the chord with honda and get their engines straight from mclaren

03/05/2017 - 16:41 |
2 | 1
H5SKB4RU (Returned to CT)

Even a girl is more reliable than a honda F1 engine

03/05/2017 - 17:15 |
1 | 3
Anonymous

Let’s not forget these are engines designed to provide max power and last the length of a season, with machining tolerances so close, the engines need to be prewarmed to even turn over. If they cool down too much, they seize up, if they get too hot, they lose compression and power. They are engineered to the very edge, and the amount of times little old bernie ecclestone changed the engines they use makes it even more challenging.

03/05/2017 - 18:09 |
3 | 0
McLaren Honda Has Used Up Five Engines Already In 2017
furballs2000

What was their highest grid penalty last season?
Maybe they are going for a new high score!

03/05/2017 - 19:04 |
1 | 0

low score you mean

03/05/2017 - 20:13 |
0 | 1
TheMindGarage

McLaren should just stick to road cars at this rate.

03/05/2017 - 20:56 |
1 | 0
DTM-fan

They’ll probably have to change tires and engine in one pitstop.

03/05/2017 - 21:24 |
1 | 0
Anonymous

Pretty sure it was 4 engines, the 3rd day used the 1st days engine. They brought 3 originally and flew 1 in

03/05/2017 - 22:27 |
1 | 0