Mike Krackchief operating officer of Aston Martin, and Shintaro Orihara, chief engineer of Honda F1, commented today in Montreal the news and progress that awaits AMR26 this weekend. There is modifications or improvements, but they focus on engine management, drivability and optimizing the operation of the gearbox, something others are also stuck with, including Red Bull. It is confirmed that there will be modifications to the car, although “small and not visible.” Regarding the possible gain of time with these minimal developments, Krack is sincere: “I can’t give a figure, It would be like guessing it,” he confesses.
Honda’s objectives in Canada
Shintaro Orihara: “In Miami, we took a significant step forward in battery reliability and are now focusing on improving energy management and driveability. Driveability is critical to battery life, so we’ve optimized data settings to improve it.”
Car driving problems
SW: “We have a good understanding of what the problem is or what causes it. What is unique about this year is that the regulations are changing. In the part-throttle phase, last year part-throttle was mainly applied to the engine. But this year, even in the engine braking phase, the operating load is high. Therefore, the difference in the operating point is quite large compared to last year. Furthermore, we observe a particular behavior in that phase… We are trying to improve our controllability in that phase.”
Solutions for the gearbox?
Mike Krack: “The whole drivability thing, including upshifts and downshifts, is more complex than before for a number of reasons. The regulations have changed quite a bit in terms of downshifts. We are getting a lot more power back… The load levels are lower and we are also new to this, we shouldn’t forget that.”
The gearbox issue is complex and will continue to be so.
“It is a complex issue that I think we are understanding better and better. Also, now we can do more laps, we can ride more. Many problems that prevented us from riding are already resolved and now new issues (problems) are emerging. I think the whole gearbox issue is complex and will continue to be so. In addition, we see that many drivers complain about gear changes and I think this is partly due to the current situation, but I also think we have work to do.”
Stay motivated
MK: “The truth is, quite good. The drivers are the ones who need protection the most, because you ask them the same question every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then the following week. It is very difficult for them to be repetitive and always give the same answer. So I think, as I already said in China, that we have to protect the drivers from that, because they accumulate that frustration by being at the back of the grid.”
It is difficult for pilots to be repetitive and always give the same answer every day
“As for the team, we are aware of our situation and I think that, together with our partner, we met from the beginning and defined the steps we had to take to improve. Knowing that we have to take big steps and in Formula 1 big steps are not taken during a season.”
“So you have to motivate yourself by progressing race after race, event after event. And then at the end of the season you can take stock and say, ‘Okay, what have we achieved?’ But it’s also true that we live in a world where you have to talk about improvement, improvement or update, update, update and if you don’t see great progress or a big impact on the results, people get frustrated.”
“It’s about managing that, managing that situation. I think that with the next races, we will have a sequence of races now that the European season starts, in which we will have to hold firm. But we had a meeting with the team this morning and the atmosphere is very good because we are honest about the situation, we are aware and we discuss it. So I can only confirm that the spirit with our partner, with the team, within the team is very strong. But for the drivers it is very difficult because they are the most exposed.”
Modifications for Canada, “yes”
M.K. “Yes, there are modifications, but they are not the type that you would expect from a long list of improvements that will be announced on Friday morning. Those pieces will arrive during the summer. So, for the moment, these are detail changes in several areas that are not so visible, but that will help us improve.
We have detail changes in several areas that are not visible, but will help us improve
How much time gain by improving drivability alone?
M.K. “Yes, it’s a good question, it’s a key question. I think every engineer wants to put a number on the drivability, the balance of the car, the gear shifting and all that. So I’d love to give you the number, but I don’t have it myself. So I’d have to guess.”
There will be several races without aero parts
MK: “Yeah, like I said, there’s no point getting frustrated and sulking. We’ve got a job to do on the court. Regardless, we’ve got to make the most of the package we’ve got. And if that’s the situation you’re in, you’ve got to recognize it and work with it.”
Aero parts? Nothing will change (in the next races), we have to stay motivated and compete to the maximum
“Nothing will change, that’s why I think it’s much more important to keep your motivation high. And it’s also necessary to have this routine of competing, of performing at your best, of being professional.”
“And I have to give credit to everyone. I think in Miami, obviously, it goes unnoticed because it gets overshadowed by the result. But I think the collaboration, for example, during the Miami weekend, was very, very strong in terms of how we manage the different situations with the tires, the cooling and everything else. So there are positive aspects, but at the moment they are a little bit hidden by the result.”
Change of plans at the factory?
MK: “Yes, I leave these decisions in the hands of Adrian and those responsible for a strategy for technical development. And we must not forget that we are in a world with cost limits, so all this must be taken into account. It was decided to introduce the improvements a little later in the season and our job on track is to make the most of what we have until then.
And we must not forget that we are in a world with cost limits, so all this must be taken into account. It was decided to introduce the improvements a little later in the season. And our job on the track is to make the most of what we have until then.
Consensus on moving to a 60-40 engine distribution for next year
SW: “Sorry, I can’t explain the point in detail about the regulation change. But I would say that the most difficult point in terms of power and size will be whether we increase the fuel flow. Improving performance is also a challenge, but reliability is also a challenge.”
By 2027, the most difficult point will be increasing fuel flow
“If we increase the fuel flow, improving reliability from there is a challenge. But it’s also interesting to know, from an engineering point of view, what we can do.”