F1, Honda changes hardware and software for Brazil after MGU-K failure

Honda arrives at the Brazilian Grand Prix with work on two fronts, hardware and software, after the MGU-K failure that in Mexico stopped Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. The problem emerged on the Aston Martins in a difficult weekend complicated by the cooling systems and the altitude of Mexico City, where the circuit sits more than 2000 metres above sea level. The two cars retired almost simultaneously, on the same lap and for pretty much the same reason.

At Interlagos the picture will be less extreme than in Mexico, but altitude remains a factor to take into account. For this reason Honda has chosen to intervene already for this weekend with corrections designed to improve the reliability of the power unit in conditions that remain delicate, even if not at the level of the Mexican circuit.

Honda's explanations

Shintaro Orihara, Honda operations manager, reconstructed the origin of the failure: «In particular circumstances our engine behaved in a slightly unusual way», he told Motorsport.com Italia. According to what he explained, that behaviour put the ERS cooling circuit connected to the engine under strain and, in the end, caused the failure of the MGU-K, both in qualifying and in the race, in the conditions brought about by Mexico's high altitude.

Orihara did not specify in detail which components were modified or how extensive the software changes are. He did, however, confirm that in Brazil Honda is bringing targeted countermeasures to strengthen the robustness of the system. The line chosen by the Japanese manufacturer is clear: act before the Interlagos weekend to avoid the anomalies seen in Mexico being repeated with the same effect on the Aston Martins of Alonso and Stroll.

The weekend context

The source also reveals another point: in Mexico the problem did not arise only from temperature management on track, but from a combination of factors linked to the operating conditions of the power unit. For this reason Honda considered it necessary to act on several levels, without limiting itself to a single technical correction.

Brazil, while not presenting the same extreme difficulties as the Mexican GP, still calls for attention because the circuit remains at altitude. Honda will therefore try to verify on track the effectiveness of the adjustments already introduced between one race and the next, with the immediate aim of avoiding another premature stop and keeping the thermal side of the system under control.