Honda not abandoning idea of podium finish in 2015

Honda is not yet abandoning the idea of powering McLaren to the podium in 2015. Amid all the hype about the reunion of the ultra-successful names in formula one, McLaren-Honda has struggled so far this season.

But the MP4-30 has made significant progress since the Melbourne season opener, and star driver Fernando Alonso has suggested Q3 and a points finish might be a realistic target for his home race in Barcelona this weekend. "Day by day," agreed Honda's F1 chief Yasuhisa Arabi, "we can see real progress. I am confident that our efforts will yield results," he told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.

Arai admitted that Bahrain was a terrible weekend for Jenson Button, whose troublesome car did not even make the grid, "but I am sure that we will be able to solve the problems". "We have worked hard for the first European race," the Japanese added.

"We have not yet achieved the results we wanted, but we have already been able to improve a lot, which we could see with Alonso's qualifying and race performance" in Bahrain, Arai continued. "I would say that we are on the way up the mountain now, although not yet at the top. The podium is our hope and aspiration for the remaining 15 races," he added.

Asked if F1's new 'power unit' era has proved more difficult for Honda than first imagined, Arai answered: "I would not say more difficult, but more diverse. It is important for Honda to change its working culture, so we are fine-tuning the harmonisation, mechanical work, learning and leadership," he revealed. (GMM)

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Date
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Bahrain
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia
21 - Mar 23 2025
China
4 - Apr 6 2025
Japan
11 - Apr 13 2025
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18 - Apr 20 2025
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2 - May 4 2025
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23 - May 25 2025
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30 - Jun 1 2025
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29 - Aug 31 2025
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Italy
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24 - Oct 26 2025
Mexico
7 - Nov 9 2025
Brazil
21 - Nov 23 2025
United States of America
28 - Nov 30 2025
Qatar
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United Arab Emirates
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16 2025
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23 2025
4 - Apr 6 2025
11 - Apr 13 2025
18 - Apr 20 2025
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
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United States of America Miami International Autodrome
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23 - May 25 2025
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13 - Jun 15 2025
27 - Jun 29 2025
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1 - Aug 3 2025
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