“We have proceeded with the mapping back at the factory utilising the data we collected, and we are going to bring the Spec 3 for both drivers this weekend,” said Honda’s Yusuke Hasegawa, green lighting the updated power unit for both Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne in this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix.
Alonso was able to test the ‘Spec 3’ during practice in the Baku City Circuit.
However, the Spaniard was not able to use the unit for the whole weekend as Honda wanted validation of performance gains and tweaks to its setting prior to its race debut. Nonetheless Alonso still garnered the first points of McLaren’s season with a ninth place finish.
Honda premier Yusuke Hasegawa confirmed the use of the updated engine for this weekend’s race.
The Japanese said, “At the previous round in Azerbaijan, we were able to bank our first points of the year and I think it brought some brightness into our team.”
The Honda president added, “We also tested the updated PU [Power Unit], the Spec 3, with Fernando on Friday and we were able to confirm some progress in terms of the power output.
Hasegawa is hopeful about the engine performance around the Spielberg circuit saying, “I think we have some improvements in our competitiveness and I am looking forward to seeing our performance in Austria,”
He emphasized the team’s eager preparations for the said grand prix.
“We will not stop our preparation until the last minutes, and I hope we have a good race to reflect our progress.”
