Aston Martin is set to debut an upgraded power unit from Honda during a filming day in Hungary on Wednesday. This development follows a significant chassis upgrade introduced for the Hungarian Grand Prix, as the team works to improve its performance in the 2026 season. The new engine is a crucial component in the collaborative effort between Aston Martin and Honda to address the car’s weaknesses and advance in the competitive F1 field.
The chassis upgrades in Hungary represented the first major phase of changes aimed at enhancing the team’s standing. These improvements allowed Fernando Alonso to reach Q2 for the first time in 2026, qualifying 16th. In the subsequent race, Alonso finished 14th, while Lance Stroll placed 13th, ahead of an Alpine and both Haas and Williams cars. This marked a notable step forward for Aston Martin, which had previously found itself struggling at the back of the F1 pack, behind teams like Cadillac.
Collaborative Efforts for Performance Gains
Fernando Alonso acknowledged the progress but cautioned that there is still “a long way to go” before Aston Martin and Honda can be considered front-runners. He emphasized the collaborative nature of their work, stating, “We are one team. We work together. We know our weakness and we try to help each other.” Alonso noted that Honda initially focused on addressing some of the car’s weaknesses earlier in the year, and now, with the chassis improvements, Aston Martin is working to support Honda, particularly in areas like lap consistency and deployment.
The extensive chassis upgrade for the AMR26 in Hungary involved a substantial 16-part modification, giving the car a distinct appearance. Adrian Newey’s design team implemented significant changes, and further parts are expected in future races. Alonso expressed optimism that these changes, combined with the upcoming engine upgrade, will allow the team to further optimize the new package. He anticipates that the next races, especially with the engine upgrade, will provide an “interesting check in Zandvoort” to assess their competitive position.
Engine Upgrade and Future Outlook
Shintaro Orihara, Honda’s trackside general manager and chief engineer, confirmed that the filming day at the beginning of the summer break would be utilized to test the new engine. He highlighted the importance of this opportunity to evaluate how the new engine integrates with the chassis. Teams are limited to 200km of running during filming days and must use specific demonstration tyres for these tests.
Mike Krack, Aston Martin’s chief trackside officer, stated that the pace gains observed in Hungary aligned with the team’s expectations. He remarked that the primary objective was to return to competitive racing, which he believes they achieved with the upgrade package. Krack emphasized the need for continued progress, a sentiment echoed by Orihara, who stressed the importance of the new power unit for bringing additional lap time, especially now that the chassis is performing well.
Engine vibrations had been a concern for Aston Martin and Honda earlier in the 2026 season. While some vibrations reportedly reappeared in Hungary on Friday, both the team and engine supplier clarified that these were not the same issues experienced at the start of the season. Alonso indicated that these issues were “fixed completely” when a new engine was installed for the remainder of the weekend from Saturday, suggesting that the previous power unit might have been nearing the end of its operational life.
Alonso acknowledged the increased pressure on Honda to deliver improvements given the recent chassis gains. However, he reiterated the shared responsibility within the partnership, emphasizing that both sides are committed to addressing each other’s weaknesses. He concluded that while it is “a long way to go,” this is hopefully the initial step, and both factories are building confidence and trust in their work, which he believes will be paramount over the coming months.
The debut of Honda’s updated engine at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break is highly anticipated as Aston Martin seeks further performance improvements.
Source: planetf1.com
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