TOKYO - With Honda's continued underperformance bringing into question its future with the McLaren team, the head of the manufacturer's Formula One operations has detailed where the problems started, and where he hopes they will end.

Yusuke Hasegawa said that the 2017 season, Honda's third since it returned to the sport, started with a clean slate as the introduction of a new power unit concept meant he was going to "almost call this 'year one' again."

But despite the fresh start being sullied by another season of constant mechanical issues and a lack of power when on track, Hasegawa said that Honda is committed to staying the course.

"Our aim is to develop the 2017 concept into the 2018 season and hopefully 2019 as well. So the engine weight, center of gravity and the combustion concept is all going in the same direction as the other three engine manufacturers," he said recently on the manufacturer's website.

The Honda boss gave a frank assessment of the issues it came across in taking its engine concepts from design, to testing and ultimately the track, with the last step proving the most problematic.

He said limitations of testing meant that real-world racing conditions left the team scrambling to overcome some serious issues in managing oil reserves, and dealing with a severe vibration problem.

"We have a rig for the oil tank but we cannot recreate the same types of G-forces and conditions as in the car. Of course, by design, we have to consider the actual car situation in theory, but sometimes it is not always the same situation so that is why we had some issues with the oil tank first."

"The second issue was down to the vibrations. On the dyno (test rig), the model is stiffer and heavier, so it doesn't create any synchronized vibrations, but on the car with the gearbox and the tires...we suffered a huge vibration on the car," he said.

The PR disaster Honda would face if McLaren, formerly one of the powerhouse teams in the sport, dumped the Japanese company for another engine provider is something to be avoided at all costs.

A report from autosport.com earlier in the week perhaps means Hasegawa will not have to worry too much about the England-based team cutting ties.

The website reported that neither Mercedes, constructors of the dominant power unit in recent times, nor the resurgent Ferrari are willing to give McLaren a customer deal, leaving Renault the team's only other option.

The lack of a significantly better alternative, plus the huge financial assistance McLaren receives from Honda for being a "works" team, means any switch becomes increasingly unlikely by the day.