Aston Martin will debut the new Honda engine at the Dutch GP: here’s the lap time gain
Following the upgrades introduced in Budapest, the Silverstone team will finally benefit from the new Power Unit. Honda has maximized all advantages of the 2026 ADUO regulations and supplied Aston Martin with an upgraded engine in the Netherlands, aiming for a further step forward. Test results and dyno data are positive, but the definitive verdict will come on track.
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Performance improved markedly in Hungary, with Stroll finishing thirteenth, closely followed by Fernando Alonso. However, that boost came mainly from chassis and bodywork modifications. At Zandvoort, Aston Martin expects an additional push from the Japanese engine upgrade.
The impact of Honda’s new Power Unit
After some initial challenges in their partnership, Honda is delivering a fully updated engine in the Netherlands to help Aston Martin fight for points. This marks an initial upgrade ahead of a more significant one planned for 2027.
“We have to be realistic in Formula 1; we can’t bring a magic upgrade. But we’re confident this update will produce solid progress,” said Honda F1 Chief Engineer Shintaro Orihara to media including F1inGenerale during the Dutch GP. “We still have a gap to the top competitors, but Aston Martin made a big step with their upgrade in Hungary, bringing them back to the midfield.”
Orihara also hinted at lap time improvements from this new engine: “In the midfield, every 50 to 100 milliseconds counts greatly in improving positions. We believe this upgrade can deliver that kind of lap time gain.”
Honda’s focus on reliability
One of the biggest issues with Honda’s previous Power Unit was reliability and strong vibrations. Tests in Hungary after the race weekend confirmed the improvements in these areas, which previously raised concerns.
“This was the first time we introduced the new engine spec with the chassis. We confirmed that the Power Unit performs as expected, which is very positive. We also gained interesting data on drivability, which helped us optimize our engine settings for Zandvoort,” Orihara explained. “Completing the full test program without issues was another positive sign.”
Regarding vibrations, Orihara was clear: “At this moment, we have no concerns about vibrations.”
The updates focus solely on the internal combustion engine, targeting power gains through improvements in the combustion chamber, cylinders, and internal friction. Importantly, the team will not face any grid penalties for replacing engine components.
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Image credit: Marco Talluto for F1inGenerale.com