Resurrection! Honda F1 team led by "Beast Master" December 20, 15:33

The highest peak of automobile racing, F1. Honda returned four years ago by supplying the engine that is the heart of the machine. After the return, the struggle continued, but this season won for the first time in 13 years, and the slowness of the resurrection was raised. What was behind it? Why continue to challenge F1? I talked to a veteran engineer who became the key to the resurrection. (Keita Suzuki, Economic Department reporter / Newswatch 9 reporter Takafumi Niimura)

Leader appointment is half a year before retirement

“I felt like I was climbing up to heaven in the second place until last year, but this season is different. I'm really disappointed. That seems to be evidence of growth.”

Looking back, Mr. Yasuaki Asagi (61), head of Honda's F1 engine development.

On December 1, immediately after the final game in Abu Dhabi, the Middle East, we spoke at a development site in Sakura City, Tochigi Prefecture. This season, Honda won three wins a year and made a foothold for the resurrection.

But so far it has been a painful road. In the four years after returning, he was unable to win a single win. It was Mr. Asagi who was entrusted with the revival of the development team at the bottom.

Asagi-san was appointed as development manager two years ago. About half a year later, he was starting to think about his second life. Why did Mr. Asagi take on a major role?

Mr. Asagi: “The race is Honda's DNA. If you withdraw, the young engineer will be useless. I wanted to give them a successful experience and connect them next time.”

The history of glory and frustration

Honda's F1 history is brilliant. In 1964, the first Japanese car manufacturer to enter the war. In the following year, he won the first victory and appealed the technical capabilities of Japanese manufacturers to the world.

From the late 1980s to the early 90s, it was overwhelmed by its powerful engine. In 1988, he achieved 15 wins out of 16 races a year. Japan became enthusiastic about the absolute champion Honda.

After that, Honda repeated participation and withdrawal, returning to 2015 four years ago. Despite great expectations ...

“Mechanical engine!”
During the race, the driver shouts. Honda's engine was broken many times, and white smoke was rising from the machine. Honda, who retired, never saw the hero of the former champion.

The factor that Honda suffered. That is because the regulation (rule) has changed greatly while it withdrew from F1 due to the deterioration of business performance due to the Lehman shock.

The regulation of F1 has changed from “anyway fast” to a hybrid system obligatory and “how fast it runs with limited fuel”. Honda's technology has not kept up with this change.

The cost of F1 is said to be tens of billions of yen per year. Even inside the company, there was even an accusation that “they are investing a lot but they are lowering the brand image”.

Unfounded confidence

Mr. Asagi is a person who knows the former “strong Honda”. He has been involved in the development of F1 for four years since 1982, the second year of joining the company.

Asagi-san “In F1 at that time, I was able to win a race against Porsche and BMW in the race. Based on the unfounded self-confidence, I came up with an engineer with the belief that it can be done somehow.”

This thought was also used in subsequent experiences. Mr. Asagi worked on F1 and was in charge of engine development for passenger cars. Since 2008, he has been responsible for the development of mini vehicles, which continued to be sluggish.

At this time, a light car with limited size and a product that was particular about the size of the interior space. “N-BOX” has become an unusual hit product.

The design was redesigned from the ground up and the position of the engine was changed boldly, realizing an overwhelming area at that time.

Mr. Asagi “F1 is a regulation, light cars are big. The idea was the same in terms of how to fight in the face of constraints. The results and production volume are completely defeated by other companies. I didn't win even if I did it, so I thought that I had to constrain the limitations and look for something that only Honda could do. ''

Victory over the organizational barrier

This season's F1. Why did Honda come to win? Mr. Asagi confesses that it is the result of working with “All Honda” beyond the boundaries of the organization.

The problem that Honda was facing was damage to the main parts of the engine. The “shaft”, which rotates up to 125,000 times a minute, was messed up every time the engine was run. Asagi-san alone could not solve this problem.

So Asagi consulted with the Honda Jet development team based in the United States. They said that they solved this problem that they couldn't solve even after many trials. The jet technology, which requires higher durability, was utilized.

By removing the walls of the vertically divided organization and obtaining cooperation from other departments, we have created a highly complete engine.

Master the “Beast”

Asagi-san did not only solve the problem. The F1 development team was also rebuilt with its own human resource utilization method.

“Organizations that do n’t work in the“ Beast ”cannot be the best in the world.”

Mr. Asagi says that "doesn't listen to what his boss says" or "does what he likes but does not dislike" types of engineers are called "beasts". I think that these “beasts” will be key.

Asagi-san “The old engineers were all that kind of person (laughs). I'm the same type of person, so I understand my feelings well. The goal isn't success or money. I work as an engineer on the basis of whether I think it is interesting. There are a lot of “beasts” in humans, but these engineers are difficult to handle, but if the vectors match, they work twice, and you can present something that interests them, or “Is this interesting?” Whether or not you can say something is important. "

No second in the world!

“I want to nurture engineers who open up a new world by seeking ideas beyond common sense and challenging adversity.”

Mr. Asagi says there is a reason why Honda will stick to winning in F1 and continue to challenge.

Asagi-san “It ’s not good if it ’s not the top. It ’s very important that the confidence is the best in the world, and if it ’s the best in the world, it ’s definitely possible in other places. I want some of those engineers to come out. ”
"Now it's a tough time. It's not a time to succeed, but a failure is a time for companies to hurt. Even junior engineers challenge and open up a new world through manufacturing. I want you to have that feeling. ''

To produce innovative technology

“A success experience is more important than anything else,” says Asagi.

It is said that the automobile industry is "in a period of change once every 100 years" for cutting-edge technologies such as electric cars and autonomous driving, and entry from different industries is in a tough competitive environment.

Because it is such a harsh time, we dare to challenge difficult issues and create innovative technologies. I would like to continue to cover the challenges of these engineers.

Keita Suzuki, reporter of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Covered mainly in the primary industry at the Obihiro Bureau from the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2003

Newswatch 9 reporter
Takafumi Shinmura Joined Nagano and Saga in 2010 News 7
Currently in charge of News Watch 9