Honda: Only luck will put McLaren on the podium

Editor

Honda admit only luck with put them on this year’s podium with Yusuke Hasegawa saying the realistic goal is to become regular points scorers.

Honda returned to Formula One in 2015 with McLaren in what proved to be a trying season. The team scored just 27 points and managed only one double points-haul.

This season’s campaign has already shown improved results with Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button netting 24 points in the first eight races.

But with the team’s best result being Alonso’s P5 in Monaco, Honda’s F1 chief concedes podiums will only come with luck this season.

Asked by Auto Motor und Sport whether podiums would be possible this year, Hasegawa said: “No, only with luck. Our realistic goal is to regularly finish in the points.”

He added: “We are not satisfied but the results are reasonable considering where we came from.

“We are still on schedule and we are optimistic of a podium or a victory within the next two years.”

Hasegawa also weighed in on Honda supplying a second team, saying that Japanese manufacturer is open to it in the future.

“If we had the resources, there is nothing that speaks against a second team,” he said. “That way, you generate more data and experience and learn more quickly.

“But in our current situation, there are not many teams who want our engine, and currently each team has an engine. But we are planning to expand our organisation so that when there is interest, we could supply a second team.”