Key hoping for a reliable Honda power unit

Editor

James Key is hoping that Honda’s 2018 power unit will be reliable from the first lap of pre-season testing, as he reckons that will make a huge difference on Toro Rosso’s season.

This year Red Bull’s junior team will run Honda power after signing with the Japanese manufacturer as their sole customer.

It is a move that is shrouded in uncertainty given Honda’s wretched reliability last season when they powered McLaren.

As such Key acknowledges that his biggest desire is for the Honda power unit to be reliable from the get-go.

The Toro Rosso tech chief told RACER: “I think it makes a huge difference.

“It works both for us and Honda as a team together, it’s important for both of us to have that situation.

“When we ran the 2015 Ferrari engine in 2016, that was a very well-established engine.

“It had done an entire season; all of its issues had been ironed out and as a result we got an extremely reliable unit and we were able to do absolutely tons of winter testing.

“That was extremely useful for the team and for the drivers. So it does make a difference.”

He added: “We have had different experiences! Last year I think we did half the amount of mileage and in 2014 we did a tiny amount of mileage and that was all power unit-related, so I think it matters a great deal.

“Let’s see where we are – it matters of course very much to Honda too, so hopefully at that point it will be OK. There could be teething problems with certain things but that’s what testing is for. You never know, but that is the target for both sides.”