Formula 1 Insight

Honda's Plans Revealed
29/10/2007
Over at F1 Fanatic, Keith Collantine has reported that Honda has won the Greenies' Award for their favorite company of the year. This is all thanks to the (ahem) innovative color scheme for Honda's F1 car this year and not, as some have alleged, for the car's environmentally-friendly lack of pace.

2007 Honda F1

Keith wonders what the Japanese company will be doing next year to ensure they retain the prestigious award and, thanks to astounding reports coming in over the weekend from my spies, I can reveal the full extent of the revolution about to be released upon Formula One. Agent Double-O 531272 points at an article in The Register as being the clue to Honda's plans.

Apparently, Honda is going to market it's hydrogen-powered FCX model in the USA and Japan next year, confounding the experts who expected a long period of beta testing before the car could be on general sale. What the article does not say is that Honda will be using F1 to increase awareness of their bold move, thereby adding to pressure for the spread of hydrogen filling stations in the relevant countries.

Although the FIA has ruled that there will be no engine changes in the sport for ten years, Honda knows that only minor modifications to the fuel feed system are required to enable an internal combustion engine to run on hydrogen - and these are not covered by the engine freeze. They intend, therefore, to run a hydrogen-powered car in F1 races in 2008.

The scheme is devilishly clever. Since the FIA's checks for fuel are all designed for gasoline, they will not be able to give readings on the gas being pumped into the cars. Honda will claim that it is air, knowing that there is no way this can be disproved with existing equipment. They have taken extensive measures to ensure that the hydrogen is only delivered at ambient temperatures, having noted that this is a loophole in the regulations bound to be closed by the FIA before long.

One wag amongst my spies is calling the plan "The Watergate Affair", having noticed that the by-product of burning hydrogen is steam. This brings the "-gate" series of scandals full circle and the media will be free to search for other handles to hang on stories from now on.

Unconfirmed reports are also claiming that Toro Rosso are preparing a protest against the Honda design that they will lodge at the Australian Grand Prix next year. A journalist for the Nepalese newspaper, Sgilch, has described overhearing a conversation in a Hungarian pizza restaurant, in which it was whispered that STR are in possession of a 7,800-page document that details the Honda plan. This has been denied by STR bosses, Franz Tost adding that he would "punch the lights out" of anyone saying otherwise. Gerhard Berger was also alleged to have mumbled something about it all being on CD now anyway.

Readers are advised to take these revelations with a sizable dose of salt; my spies have been known to get carried away and exaggerate on occasion, especially when on assignment in Japan, where the saki is a little strong for them, I suspect. But, just in case it all turns out to be true, remember where you heard it first!

Clive

Craig
Our clocks here in Britain got put back an hour at the weekend to allow for the darker nights and mornings - I think I've inadvertently put mine back to 1st April!
Date Added: 29/10/2007

Clive
Hehehe, I think the same thing has happened to me, Craig - my computer tells me it's 9:43am today but everyone else insists on 10:43!
Date Added: 29/10/2007

Alianora La Canta
Brilliant Clive! :)


Date Added: 29/10/2007

Clive
Thank you, Alianora. :)
Date Added: 29/10/2007

Neil
Haha, damn you Clive! Just for a second I was excited at the prospect of a hydrogen-powered F1 car, but even more excited that a loophole like that both existed and was being exploited!

You have answered one unasked question though... what does an F1 blogger do in the off-season?
Date Added: 29/10/2007

Clive
Dream up silly stories? Sure, Neil, why shouldn't the F1 bloggers have a silly season too? And this one was pure serendipity. I had just finished reading Keith's article on the Greenie award to Honda and up pops a PM from my son with a link to the Register article. It was just too good to miss! ;)
Date Added: 29/10/2007

John F
Nice score Clive. I thought it was going to be boring for the next couple of weeks. How pleasant to see this article after reading the article from Perdue U that you gave me last week, it was almost like you knew something was going to happen. Do you think you could give me 6 numbers between 1 and 72???? I feel lucky
Date Added: 30/10/2007

Clive
LOL Never ask me for a tip, John - my bet for champion this year was Jenson Button... :|
Date Added: 30/10/2007

John F
So who do you think will win this year and I will NOT put money on him??


Date Added: 30/10/2007

Clive
Well, I don't want to jinx the poor guy but he drives for a team that starts with a B and ends with a W and he is often criticized for growing a beard. ;)
Date Added: 30/10/2007

John F
what letter is in the MMMMMMMIddle
Date Added: 30/10/2007

Clive
I dare not say - the jinx hovers...
Date Added: 30/10/2007

John F
I also have a good feeling about that team. One of them will be the top driver I suspect. But if the car is as good as I expect both will be fighting for the top spot
Date Added: 30/10/2007

Clive
Yes, it could be another Hamilton/Alonso situation except that the personalities involved are different. The drivers are a lot more laid back (and the one time they did shove each other off this year it was sorted out without too much drama) and the team manager very capable and level-headed. I think they will be fine regardless of who gets ahead. It's just that I think the older one deserves it after so many years of being ignored.
Date Added: 30/10/2007

Alianora La Canta
Neil, Clive, maybe it would be a good idea for me to join in this silly season - I have, perhaps inadvisably, joined NaBloPoMo, which obliges me to come up with a post per day in November whether Fernando Alonso makes his mind up what team he's driving for next month or not...

And I'd be pretty happy if the bearded one got the championship as well.
Date Added: 30/10/2007

Alianora La Canta
Hey, maybe McLaren and Ferrari can get each other thrown out for childish behaviour off-track. Then he could have the championship this year for acting like a grown-up!
Date Added: 30/10/2007

Clive
I think the bearded one is a very serious young man - it's no act!

As for NaBloPoMo, I have never heard of it but, if it obliges you to post every day, even if only for a month, it will have done the world a favour, Alianora. Here's a hint: many of the excellent comments that you leave so generously on the blogs of others would make very good blog posts themselves. Keith did that to me for a while - it was so tempting to comment on his posts that all my inspiration was going to his comment system, leaving me with the dregs for my own blog! These days I curb my enthusiasm. ;)
Date Added: 30/10/2007

Alianora La Canta
I know Nick's a serious young man, Clive, which would be another good reason to give him the 2007 crown ;)
Date Added: 31/10/2007

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