Honda, engine supplier for the Aston Martin Formula 1 team, announced on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, its intention to implement a new engine version in its cars. This introduction is scheduled to take place in two stages after the mid-season break, with the debut scheduled for August 23, during the Dutch Grand Prix, in Zandvoort.
The news was communicated by Shintaro Orihara, chief engineer at Honda Racing Corporation, during an advance analysis of the Belgian Grand Prix, which will take place over the weekend. Despite having started 2026 with the ambition of challenging the top teams, Aston Martin has remained approximately one second per lap behind Cadillac, which occupies the position of second worst performing team in recent qualifying sessions.
“We still have two races before we introduce our new power unit,” declared Orihara. He emphasized the importance of accumulating knowledge with the current setup, with a view to applying the lessons learned about energy management in future races, especially on circuits with long straights like Monza.
Since the pre-season period, Aston Martin has faced a phase of technical difficulties. Unlike other teams, the team has chosen not to carry out major updates to its car so far, which has worsened the performance gap compared to its opponents.
The development of the new engine is possible due to “Aid for Deficient Power Units” (ADUO), a mechanism newly implemented by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) this season. This regulation allows manufacturers with performance below 2% of the benchmark unit, currently Red Bull-Ford, to receive permission to carry out upgrades.
Global media reports indicate that Honda’s engine was considered the worst performer in Formula 1 in 2026 to date. In response, the team will utilize one of two additional upgrade permissions granted by the FIA, expected to be implemented at Zandvoort, aiming for a significant increase in competitiveness.
Honda engine failures manifested themselves in the initial pre-season tests, with Aston Martin vehicles experiencing recurring breakdowns. Additionally, drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll reported significant engine vibrations. Adrian Newey, the team leader, even expressed concern that these tremors could cause permanent damage to the nerves in the competitors’ hands.
Although Honda and Aston Martin have resolved the vibration issue, the car still demonstrates instability and lack of speed. Gradually, the British team recognized that the chassis fell short of expectations. Newey also pointed out delays in the development process, resulting in a vehicle exceeding the permitted weight, a factor that compromises lap times.
In addition to the engine upgrade, Aston Martin has already announced a significant improvement to the chassis, scheduled for the Hungarian Grand Prix on the 26th. Honda, in turn, anticipates another challenging weekend in Belgium, but, in an official statement, expressed that the upcoming innovations bring a positive boost to the team’s morale.
“Therefore, the tenth event in Belgium will act as the last step before introducing these improvements, with a focus on collecting data and optimizing operations,” said the manufacturer. Honda concluded that, although it expects another demanding weekend, the team’s overall outlook has already shown considerable improvement, which has generated a welcome boost in everyone’s spirits.
