Honda plays down huge engine performance step

Aug.27 - A Honda official has played down claims Honda may now be ready to start taking on the top F1 teams.

The Japanese marque has taken an engine upgrade to Spa that benefitted from no less than 7 development tokens.

It is the latest step in what Honda chief Yusuke Hasegawa has called "incredible" recent progress. "Yeah, I definitely do agree (with that)," Fernando Alonso said in Belgium.

"For sure we will notice the difference in the car and hopefully we can approach the front group," Alonso is quoted by Spanish reporters.

There is speculation of s half a second boost and dozens of extra horse power, but team boss Eric Boullier is refusing to comment.

"Yes I can (put a number of the laptime gain), but I will not share it with you," the Frenchman smiled.

But an unnamed Honda official told the Marca sports newspaper that talking about catching up with the 'big three' teams is premature.

"No, not at all. Forget Ferrari," he is quoted as saying. "As well as Red Bull or Mercedes. Not here or in Singapore.

"This is an evolution, not a revolution," he insisted.

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