Honda Is Following Toyota By Flunking Out Of Formula 1 - Why Can't The Asians Successfully Compete?

I think of Honda as an old and much-loved friend. It’s possibly the nicest firm on Planet Automobile. And its heart is in the right place. As is mine. The company has often hosted me in Japan – at Formula One circuits, test tracks, research centres and at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Also, I feel genuinely honoured that Honda afforded me precious time – at races, social gatherings and in driver coaching sessions – with a handful of its Formula One pilots. I even got to race an NSX against one Honda F1 driver, while another made it a three-way duel by flying a helicopter overhead. Naturally, I came last.

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TheSteve - 7/28/2017 2:16:23 PM

+3 Boost

Let's not be so quick to believe "the Asians can't compete." The venerable Porsche is dropping out of all sorts of racing series, not because they can't win, but because they determined they don't benefit from participating.

Invest $20M participating in a race, and sales don't increase. Don't participate, and sales don't change. Does it make sense to continue spending the $20M to participate?

TomM - 7/28/2017 5:07:55 PM

+3 Boost

Completely Agree. IF Toyota or Honda really wanted to win at F1 or some other form - they have the ability and the money. The problem is - they don't have the NEED to do so. They already sell tons of cars - and their market is to everyday people who could car less if some special car made only for one use (ANd maybe for only a few races) - wins or not. It is not like they are using modified Accords to win there. The question is - does winning those races transfer into sales of their cars - and they don't.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 7/28/2017 5:15:02 PM

+2 Boost

I agree with the author. McLaren is now a sports car company in its own right. It makes no sense that they field an F1 team and do not use a McLaren engine. It stands to reason that they should make their own power plants and line up alongside Ferrari and Mercedes F1 cars.

MDarringer - 7/28/2017 5:23:46 PM

-1 Boost

Formula 1 is so divorced from road cars, its star power is dubious at best.

F1_Driver - 7/29/2017 1:00:41 AM

+2 Boost

I had a Honda Accord once. Its double wishbone suspension, programmed fuel injections and variable valve timing (aka VTEC) were derived from Formula One racing. What was that you said about no connections between Formula One racing and road cars???

F1_Driver - 7/28/2017 5:24:20 PM

+2 Boost

Doesn't racing improve the breed?

qwertyfla - 7/28/2017 6:34:00 PM

0 Boost

Formula 1 was forever wrecked by the introduction the safety car and quickly became homogenized and boring as hell under the Nazi leadership of Max Mosely and uncle Bernie. Way to wreck the 2nd best sport (Hockey #1) on the planet.

MorePower - 8/2/2017 3:27:42 AM

+1 Boost

Slightly racist premise behind your question/statement

Formula 1(F1) is an extremely difficulty racing series, perhaps more so than any other racing series on the planet currently.

To win in F1 you need so many things to go in one's favor:

- Best Driver for the car
- Best team to understand the ability of their driver, car, driver + car, driver + car + tires, etc.
- Best chassis possible to be paired with the engine
- Engine fuel and lubricants matched to extract the most performance from the engine
- Luck
- Best strategy for the weekend
- Weather
- Pole Position
- Team strategy
- etc.

Honda, unlike Toyota, has been the engine supplier of several team & driver championships.

Honda's problem is/was that they under-estimated the challenge these modern engines employ and need to be competitive. In addition, they don't like to ask for help and did not dedicate some of their senior engineers to the task.

Let's also not forget that they were trying to manufacture a very compact engine, "Size 0", initially.

qwertyfla - 8/4/2017 7:43:40 PM

+1 Boost

Morepower

What do you mean by size 0 motor? They are 1.6L and have been for several years. I am curious as I haven't followed F1 since Shumy retired and don't know this terminology...

I think Honda's biggest problem was that they greatly underestimated the competition (Merc, Ferrari, Red Balls/Renault) as they themselves were king supreme during the Senna (my nemesis) years.