Formula 1 | McLaren Honda, Yamamoto returns to the collaboration: "We were not prepared"

Interviewed by the press on the collaboration between McLaren and Honda, which failed at the end of 2017, Masashi Yamamoto spoke of the reasons that pushed the Woking team to separate from the Japanese engine manufacturer, underlining how the latter was not yet prepared for a technological challenge of this guy. An important shortcoming, complained several times by McLaren engineers, which led the Japanese to create an unreliable and underpowered power unit. Problems that are certainly not secondary in today's modern and competitive Formula 1.

Today, however, thanks to the contribution of Toro Rosso and Red Bull, Honda has managed to match the performance of the Renault unit, an aspect that gives hope for the future. Verstappen, we remember, has already achieved three podiums in this 2019 world championship and the objective will be to achieve as many victories before the grand finale in Abu Dhabi.

“We've learned that the most important thing is to celebrate small victories as steps forward,” Masashi Yamamoto declared to the Speed ​​Week columns. “We must continue to focus on our achievements and our primary objectives.”

On the failed partnership between McLaren and Honda he added: “We weren't fully prepared and I think it was a huge lesson for us. Let's talk about precious teachings that have brought us to where we are today."

Finally, conclusion on the dualism with Mercedes: “It will be difficult to catch up, but we are on the right path and sooner or later we will be able to battle against them. We are working in this direction."