Formula 1 | Mexican GP, ​​Honda on alert: “Reliability will be a key factor in Mexico City”

Interviewed by Honda's official website, Toyoharu Tanabe spoke about the next Mexican Grand Prix, the eighteenth round of this 2019 Formula 1 world championship, underlining how the Mexico City race will be an important test for the Japanese engine engineer, given the numerous difficulties related to the event in question.

In fact, due to the altitude of Mexico City, each engineer will have to set up every detail of the power unit as best as possible, given that the reliability of the components, primarily the turbine, will be put to the test.

Honda, we remember, has suffered tremendously from the performances of Ferrari and Mercedes from the Spa GP to today, struggling on tracks that were favorable on paper (Marina Bay and Suzuka. ed.). These trips to America, therefore, will serve as a reaction in view of a 2020 that will have to offer totally different sensations.

“After the Suzuka event, our home Grand Prix, we head east for the three races in America,” Toyoharu Tanabe said. “The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez poses many interesting questions, both for manufacturers and for motorists, which are often linked to the fact that Mexico City is located 2000 meters above sea level. The low density of the air, therefore, forces the turbine to work harder to guarantee the same influx of engine power".

“Moreover, the cooling and brake management factor should not be excluded, given that the density of the air makes temperature management more difficult, and the aerodynamic load lower than on a traditional track,” he continued. “We have a lot of data from past races, but the thing that immediately stands out is that several competitors have made a step forward in terms of performance, which is why we don't expect an easy weekend.”

“Historically, Mexico is an important weekend, given that Honda achieved its first success in Formula 1 here,” has we hope. “We hope to remember this important event as best we can.”