Honda is "still two months away from the first race" of its high-profile new partnership with McLaren but already the Japanese company "is at the heart of a controversy in Formula 1," according to Andrew Benson of the BBC.
A U-turn on an interpretation of a complex engine rule "has led to the Japanese company questioning whether it is being treated fairly on its return to F1 after a six-year absence."
It is a "typically complex and arcane issue, but it could have an impact on the competitiveness of the car to be driven by the all-star line-up of Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button." A senior figure at one of the existing manufacturers said that it "won't make much of a difference." But "a) he would say that, wouldn't he? and b) that in itself is a tacit admission that it will make a difference; the question is how much."
Another expert said, "Honda were probably already at a disadvantage because they have had to develop the engine with no testing and will not have had a chance to run much before homologation." Honda top brass "are meeting the FIA on Monday to discuss their concerns over this issue."
For now, the FIA "feels it has come up with the best possible compromise." However, it will point out to Honda that "the clarification issued on this is only an opinion, and can be challenged, either by the stewards at a race meeting or at the FIA court of appeal" (BBC, 1/8).
