Honda has revealed that destructive “abnormal vibrations” inside its all-new Formula 1 power unit damaged the latter’s battery system during pre-season testing, forcing Aston Martin to dramatically slash its running in Bahrain.
What was meant to be the dawn of a bold new works partnership has instead begun with flashing warning lights.
After the delayed AMR26’s arrival limited mileage at Barcelona, further issues in Bahrain compounded the pain. Across two test weeks, Aston Martin logged just 2,115 km – barely a third of the distance managed by heavyweights such as Mercedes, Ferrari and Haas, and only just over half of Cadillac’s tally.
With Aston its sole F1 partner for 2026, Honda’s own development programme has been hit just as hard.
The crisis reached its zenith on the final day of testing in Sakhir when the team limited its running to just six installation laps, having exhausted its supply of spare batteries, all of them sacrificed to the violent harmonics of Honda’s V6 hybrid engine.
The ‘Dangerous’ Frequency
Ikuo Takeishi, head of the HRC four-wheel racing department, was candid when explaining the severity of the mechanical structural failure.
"The abnormal vibrations observed during testing caused damage to the battery system, which was the primary reason for the stoppage," Takeishi revealed.
"We stopped the car because we felt it shouldn't continue running in that state. It wasn't that an accident was imminent or anything like that, but we stopped the car because it was dangerous."
©Aston Martin
The technical autopsy suggests a "perfect storm" of physics where the engine and chassis are failing to coexist.
"The PU side is naturally investigating the cause and working on countermeasures, while simultaneously implementing measures on the chassis side," Takeishi explained.
"Specifically, we are currently using the Sakura battery on a bench with the monocoque mounted, actively running multiple countermeasures while conducting vibration countermeasures and analysis."
A Multi-Component Mystery
Perhaps most alarming for Lawrence Stroll’s ambitious outfit is that there is no "silver bullet" fix in sight. This isn't a simple case of a faulty bolt or a software glitch; it appears to be a systemic resonance issue that could haunt the team for months.
"The vibrations caused damage to the battery, so we cannot say whether the battery itself is the problem," Takeishi elaborated.
"You could think of it as the battery pack being shaken within the vehicle body. Essentially, the area where the battery pack is attached is vibrating. Had this been within expectations, I believe we would have made further adjustments.
“As it stands, I suspect we've encountered a rather challenging situation."
He continued, painting a grim picture of the road ahead.
"For instance, if the cause were pinpointed to something like the transmission or the engine, it would be much easier to tackle.
“However, I suspect multiple components are interacting to generate the vibration. Given that, it's unclear whether fixing one part alone will resolve it, so we can't rule out the possibility of this dragging on.
“That said, purely in terms of determination, I'm absolutely intent on fixing it quickly."
Salvaging the 2026 Campaign
The fallout from these "extremely challenging" tests means Aston Martin will likely enter the Australian Grand Prix with one hand tied behind its back, forced to turn down the power or limit curb-striking to prevent the battery – and the entireAMR26 – from shattering.
Honda’s internal timeline now shifts the goalposts for true competitiveness to the end of next month.
"I'm aiming to reduce the vibration before the season opener, but I intend to get the car into a competitive state before Suzuka," Takeishi admitted.
Despite the mounting pressure and the visible frustration of the drivers, HRC boss Koji Watanabe is attempting to maintain a front of corporate serenity, even as he confirms the gravity of the situation.
"The recent pre-season tests in Barcelona and Bahrain were, frankly speaking, extremely challenging for us," Watanabe said.
"We were unable to achieve the performance levels we had anticipated, and a complex set of issues became apparent. However, these tests were also a crucial process in that they allowed us to visualise these challenges."
Read also: Newey reportedly laid bare Honda engine crisis in F1 meeting
Watanabe remains hopeful that the direct line of communication with team ownership and design genius Adrian Newey will stem the bleeding.
"There may be various issues on both sides, but we are aiming for a long-term partnership, and at this stage I believe we are united in our desire to resolve matters as one team," Watanabe said.
"I have had very positive discussions on the phone with chairman [Lawrence] Stroll and Newey about how to resolve the situation.
With the season opener approaching, it goes without saying that we will do our utmost to ensure we are ready to race in Australia.
Naturally, the drivers testing are understandably frustrated, but we can only address that through performance."
For now, the "performance" Aston Martin fans are praying for isn't a podium – it's simply a car that doesn't vibrate itself into a billion-dollar pile of carbon fiber dust.
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