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Gasly satisfied after trouble-free week of testing

Published on 02 Mar 2018 18:27
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By: Fergal Walsh

Pierre Gasly has admitted that he was satisfied with how Toro Rosso's first week of testing went. The Red Bull junior outfit is competing with Honda engines this year, after the Japanese manufacturer parted ways with McLaren last season.

Honda's engines in the hybrid era of F1 have proven to lack both speed and reliability. However, they suffered no issues during the first week of running from Barcelona, and even topped the lap count out of all of the teams with 324.

"I think it's really positive," said the Frenchman. "We didn't have any issues with the engine, which is always great, and hopefully we can carry on like this."I think it's really satisfying to have done so many laps. It's only the second day for me testing in the car, fourth day for the team, so we're still learning many things about the car."

Gasly admits that there is still some work to do, but the partnership is working smoothly: "Toro Rosso is working really hard with Honda in terms of communication to have the best package possible.

"We have a common target. We are working as a team altogether, not as two different teams. There are still a few things we need to improve, I guess like every team. But so far, it's been great working with them. They are pushing really hard. That is always nice."

boudy

Posts: 1,168

Maybe it's todo with the installation of the engine combined with improvements Honda has done. Towards the end with mcLaren I got the impression that mcLaren were doing anything to blaim the Honda PU. The size 0 and restrictions that were imposed on Honda might have been more of an issue impactin... [Read more]

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Mar 3 2018 - 17:14

F1 News Pierre Gasly McLaren Honda

Replies (10)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
To have clocked more laps than all other teams is impressive. It could indicate that they have found good reliability. Could. Now we just have to hope it is legit reliability, and that they managed to find decent power and efficiency to boot, and that Toro Rosso managed to produce a decent chassis. I'll admit Gasly's and Hartley's comments dont hold any real value to me yet, seeing as they are rookies and have nowhere near the same experience with the Renault units as other drivers to compare the two properly, and I think Tost's comments are, like some say, indirect demands for Honda to keep pushing, but nevertheless, even if this test wasnt done under representative conditions, its a good result.
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- Mar 2 2018 - 19:24
boudy

Posts: 1,168
Agree. To come to testing and have no issues like they had in 2017 is great news for f1. It would be great to have another competitive engine supplier. Also the idea Of an redbull/Honda combination is very exciting. I believe that this was the main reason why max signed up. They will have issues but they will have help from redbull along the way.
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- Mar 2 2018 - 20:28
kngrthr

Posts: 203
i wonder if the inhumanly cold air temperature helped ...
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- Mar 3 2018 - 11:47
- Barron
  
  Posts: 625
  It certainly wouldn’t have harmed them. Many of the PU reliability issues are linked to the overheating of the battery store and MGU-H, hence Red Bull having to hack holes in their bodywork 3 years ago. Honda in particular, had issues with the MGU-H but since they decided to flat out copy the Mercedes form factor, they have shown improved reliability, but I agree, the cooler temps could have helped them a lot.
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  Mar 3 2018 - 12:22
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  It might've contributed. However, while cooler temperatures could indeed help reliability, I dont know if coolness of this level actually helps. These engines are designed to work best during certain conditions, lower or higher temperatures than that interval might not necessarily be beneficial.
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  Mar 3 2018 - 12:37
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  Maybe it's todo with the installation of the engine combined with improvements Honda has done. Towards the end with mcLaren I got the impression that mcLaren were doing anything to blaim the Honda PU. The size 0 and restrictions that were imposed on Honda might have been more of an issue impacting on failures.
  If Toro Rosso does turn out to be the surprise of 2018 than some of the blame lies with mcLaren. Remember Alonso saying we are the fastest in the corners ... you might be running to much downforce ...
  
  Timing is everything in F1, Alonso's timing has been dreadfull so I wouldn't be surprised.
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  Mar 3 2018 - 17:14
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I see your point, and I'd be willing to agree to an extent. However, correlation doesnt necessarily mean causation. The amount of Microsoft Internet Explorer shares bought correlate close to perfectly with murders committed in the U.S, but that doesnt mean Microsoft is to blame for the killings in the U.S. If Honda find success in 2018, that doesnt necessarily mean McLaren were to blame for their failures in 2017. And that potential success could've already been there, waiting for McLaren had they stayed with Honda.
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  Mar 3 2018 - 18:42
- boudy
  
  Posts: 1,168
  @calle.itw We will see how Honda progresses in 2018. Interesting correlation which i had to google .. very funny. I am just stating that mcLaren wasn't such an innocent party in the issues that it experienced with Honda. Their installation, size restriction and aero package had a massive impact on the Honda issues.
  
  I am unsure if the Renault engine package is going to be that much better than Honda.
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  Mar 3 2018 - 19:05
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  I know, I love correlating graphs like that one! XD
  
  I agree that McLaren werent fault free. I dont know how much this was the case in 2016 and 2017, but it was certainly the case in 2015. At the very least they have to take some responsibility for overhyping this whole thing over and over again. I honestly dont think it'll do much. It would be a different thing if they went with Ferrari power, then Im sure they'd be up fighting for podiums, but with Renault? I guess we'll find out.
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  Mar 3 2018 - 19:18
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  And also Boudy, you made a great point about McLaren likely running with too much downforce last year. We could clearly see that even when Red Bull ran with downclocked engines, they scored decent straight line speeds. While much of McLaren's straight line speed has to be credited to Honda, I think a decent part of that is down to McLaren's downforce.
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  Mar 3 2018 - 19:24