Formula One news

Honda confident of test progress

Honda concluded a three-day test at the Hockenheimring in Germany on Thursday, the scene of Round 10 of the FIA Formula One World Championship which takes place next weekend.

Buoyed by Rubens' podium finish in last weekend's British Grand Prix, the team got back to the business of evaluating further developments to the car for the balance of the European races. The German Grand Prix will see the introduction of the team's next package of aerodynamic, engine and mechanical improvements. In addition, the drivers have been conducting general set-up work in order to get a head start for when they return to Hockenheim next weekend, with mixed weather conditions this week laying the foundations for what could be an equally variable race weekend according to early forecasts.

Engineering chief Steve Clark commented, "We are introducing our new aero package for next weekend's race, a continuation of the developments we brought to Silverstone. The weather conditions at the last test made it difficult to fully evaluate the
benefit of those developments therefore we have conducted a further review which has made this an especially busy test. We also have some improvements for engine driveability, together with mechanical changes and a new fuel system which is unrelated to the pit stop issue we encountered in Silverstone with Rubens. However, we have of course taken the opportunity to identify the cause of Sunday's issues and will revise our methods in time for the German Grand Prix. All the indications are that we have made progress here this week."

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