Honda to hold fire on next F1 engine update for McLaren

Honda is planning to wait four or five races before introducing its next Formula 1 power unit update, according to its chief Yusuke Hasegawa.

The Japanese manufacturer spent two development tokens on an internal combustion engine intake system update for McLaren ahead of the British Grand Prix.

It was aimed at improving combustion efficiency and power output as well as trying to recover some of the exhaust power it sacrificed when it updated the turbo for the Canadian Grand Prix last month.

Hasegawa says the combustion engine [ICE] remains Honda's focus with some good results coming out of development at the factory, but it is holding fire on spending its 10 remaining tokens for now.

"We still keep trying our efforts to improving our engine, the ICE area," he told Autosport.

"We have seen some good numbers, we just need to prepare.

"Not in a couple of races but in four or five races we aim to introduce it."

Hasegawa added Honda plans to "ideally" spend all of its remaining tokens before the end of the season with a plan to introduce "regular steps".

SILVERSTONE A STEP FORWARD

Hasegawa felt Honda made progress with its Silverstone upgrade but conceded it is still trailing its arrivals.

"We definitely have some gain from the power unit," he said.

"We didn't do any back to back tests so I can't tell and the driver didn't feel a big difference but it contributed to the car performance so it was good.

"Fernando [Alonso] got a very quick Q3 lap time which was eighth and although it was eliminated [for a track limits infringement] it was proof of the upgrade.

"We are bottom of the pile but we can reduce the gap."

Carlos Sainz Jr said Honda is making steps and getting very close to Toro Rosso's one-year-old spec Ferrari power unit.

When asked about the comments, Hasegawa said: "It's mixed feelings. We don't know if it is a correct comment.

"We have to appreciate they thought our power unit improves but at the same time, they only compared it to a one-year old engine!"

ENGINE TOKEN USE SO FAR

Ferrari 29 (3 remaining)
Honda 22 (10 remaining)
Mercedes 21 (11 remaining)
Renault 11 (21 remaining)