Breaking news
Formula 1 Bahrain GP
Honda puzzled by recurring MGU-H problems in Bahrain
Honda has identified a recurring MGU-H problem as the reason Fernando Alonso's engine failed in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Ben Anderson Lawrence Barretto
Edited: Apr 15, 2017, 10:05 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Alonso escaped Q1 and felt 13th or 14th on the grid was possible, but he ended up 15th after failing to complete a lap in Q2 because of the engine problem.
He will require a new unit for the race.
Motorsport.com understands the MGU-H failure sent debris into the internal combustion engine and also damaged that beyond repair.
Alonso's failure follows two terminal MGU-H problems for teammate Stoffel Vandoorne that occurred in Friday practice.
A new unit failed in the first session, and a replacement unit that was run in March's Australian Grand Prix broke in FP2.
Honda motorsport chief Yusuke Hasegawa said the Japanese manufacturer has yet to fully understand the cause, or why these failures have occurred suddenly in Bahrain.
"We are not sure the exact cause, but definitely a mechanical failure of the MGU-H," said Hasegawa. "It is something around the bearings, it was sticking. It happened (three) times here, which is very unfortunate.
"They are all dead so we have to replace. We're not sure why it happened just here three times, but we are suspecting something happened in this environment. Possibly because the temperatures are very high."
Hasegawa expressed confidence the McLaren-Honda cars will finish Sunday's race, given Alonso will start with a new MGU-H and Vandoorne's unit is still at low mileage.
However, there are concerns within McLaren that the MGU-H problem will recur in the race.
When asked to comment on the performance of the Honda engine, Alonso said the lack of reliability made this a pointless exercise.
"There is no point for us talking driveability," said Alonso, who later engaged in a serious private discussion with Hasegawa in the McLaren team offices.
"We cannot complete a lap or doing qualifying. I don't care too much about the driveability if I cannot finish a race so far this year, or if I cannot finish qualifying now."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Hulkenberg says qualifying lap as good as Brazil 2010
Next article Bahrain GP: Post Qualifying press conference
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Ben Anderson
How Lauda won F1's closest ever title battle
Formula 1
Formula 1 May 20, 2021
How Lauda won F1's closest ever title battle
Testing the tiers of Porsche's motorsport ladder
Porsche
Porsche Feb 9, 2020
Testing the tiers of Porsche's motorsport ladder
Track Test: Lamborghini Super Trofeo
General
General Dec 18, 2019
Track Test: Lamborghini Super Trofeo
More from
McLaren
What's behind Oscar Piastri's split with Mark Webber – and what it means for his F1 career
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
4 d
What's behind Oscar Piastri's split with Mark Webber – and what it means for his F1 career
Latest news
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 1 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 2 h
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
2 h
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe