Honda ready to wait on engine decision

The Japanese car manufacturer ran the new power unit for the first time in Monza testing last week. They are now evaluating whether they can guarantee its reliability after Rubens Barrichello suffered a failure following 1,200 kilometres of running.

Sources have revealed that Honda have modified the unspecified part that failed, to ensure there is no repeat problem in the future. But they are concerned about the reliability of other components that appeared close to breaking in the engine.

The team's senior technical director Shuhei Nakamoto has confirmed that work on further modifications is continuing this week in a bid to get the engine ready for Monza.

"We will wait until the last possible moment to decide," Nakamoto told autosport.com. "That could even be Friday morning before practice if necessary. If we can, we will introduce the revised specification at the Italian Grand Prix."

Honda brought forward the introduction of their 2007 engine in a bid to beat the FIA's planned future homologation date at the end of the season.

Teams have been asked to submit an engine that has completed two-race distances after either the Japanese or Brazilian Grands Prix. This will be the version of engine that teams will have to use for the next four years.

However, should engines used in those races not complete the mandatory two races, then the FIA have said that they will use power units lodged after either Monza or China as the basis of the 2007 homologated units.

It means that although Honda could in theory wait until the Japanese Grand Prix to introduce their 2007 engine, should it fail at either Suzuka or Interlagos then they will be forced to stick in the future with the older engine, if it was raced at Monza or China.

Those circumstances are the reason why Honda are so keen to introduce the engine as soon as possible. Barrichello's failure after 1,200km is slightly less than the two full-race distances that the engine has to run to under the current rules.

Nakamoto added: "Had the engine continued until lunchtime then it would have been more than two race distances. Unfortunately 1,200km is a bit marginal, but we would like to bring it in."

The new engine is heavily revised from the version used by Honda so far this season. The new architecture require modifications to the chassis.

Nakamoto claims that the major improvement with the new engine is in terms of its power delivery rather than out-and-out horsepower.

"It is more in terms of a better torque line, rather than power," he explained. "This year it was more difficult to have smooth torque."