Formula 1 will have next weekend the first Spanish GP held at the new circuit in Madrid, and Honda has already identified an important point of attention. The Japanese manufacturer foresees difficulties for the engine lubrication systems in the inclined La Monumental corner.
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The section, known as corner 12 of the Madring, is 550 meters long, is taken to the right and should be done with an entry speed close to 300 km/h. In the center of the corner, the cars may face compression of up to 4G for two seconds, combining lateral and vertical forces.
Shintaro Orihara, general manager and chief engineer of Honda for track activities, explained that the characteristics of this corner will require special attention from the teams. After experiencing the section in a track test, he described the location as ‘quite challenging and interesting’ and pointed to lubrication as the main aspect related to the power unit.
“We have G-forces both laterally and vertically, so it is quite challenging for the lubrication system,” Orihara said. According to him, Honda intends to start with a conservative setup and gradually increase the safety margin before the qualifying session.
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The warning comes after a Formula 3 test at the circuit recorded nineteen red flags, eleven of which were caused by crashes into the barriers. Still, Mike Krack, Aston Martin’s chief track engineer, which uses Honda engines, avoided labeling the Madring as a ‘killer track,’ a term used by Williams boss James Vowles.
“We will do some laps first and then see how this track is,” Krack said. The manager highlighted that some changes were made since the F3 test, including work on the asphalt, and explained that Aston Martin analyzed the data from that activity precisely to arrive at the first weekend in a more prepared position.
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