Honda is preparing to deliver a crucial Formula 1 power unit upgrade for Aston Martin at next month’s Dutch Grand Prix, with the Japanese manufacturer hoping the revised specification can provide a much-needed boost after a difficult opening half of the season.
The update will arrive after the sport’s summer break, with Honda trackside general manager and chief engineer Shintaro Orihara confirming that the manufacturer is using the remaining races with its current specification to gather valuable data before introducing the revised engine.
Aston Martin has endured a challenging 2026 campaign so far, regularly fighting near the back of the grid alongside newcomers Cadillac.
The team’s only championship point came during the chaotic Monaco Grand Prix, where Fernando Alonso recovered from a difficult position to salvage a result.
With the Honda power unit regarded as the weakest of the current generation under Formula 1’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities system, the upcoming update represents an important opportunity for both manufacturer and team to close the gap.
Honda focused on learning before upgrade arrives
Orihara revealed that Honda’s priority before the new specification reaches the track is maximising what it can learn from the existing package, particularly regarding energy management.
“We have two more races before we introduce the new engine,” Orihara said.
“It’s important to keep learning with this current spec, so we can take those energy deployment findings into future races – like Monza, where we also have the long straights.”
The timing of the upgrade means Honda will introduce the revised power unit at Zandvoort, a circuit that arrives immediately after the championship’s summer shutdown and could provide Aston Martin with an opportunity to assess whether the development step delivers the expected gains.
For a team already looking ahead to its 2027 project, improving the current package remains a difficult balancing act.
Budget cap restrictions and aerodynamic testing limitations make a dramatic turnaround this season unlikely, but additional power unit performance could still help Aston Martin escape the lower reaches of the grid.
Spa another challenge for Honda’s engine programme
Before attention turns to the Dutch Grand Prix, Honda faces demanding tests at circuits where power efficiency and energy deployment are critical.
Belgium’s Spa-Francorchamps presents a particular challenge due to its long straights and limited opportunities for energy recovery, requiring careful management of the hybrid system.
Orihara explained the difficulties ahead:
“[Spa] will be a test for manufacturers in terms of energy management so we need to consider how we will deploy MGU-K power on the long straights,” he said.
‘The harvesting here is quite limited, even considering the circuit length. This puts more emphasis on getting the deployment plan right. The straights are also a demand on the power unit in general – not only for performance but also for reliability.
“An added unknown is the changeable weather conditions at the circuit. At Silverstone it remained dry, so Spa could be the first time where we have proper wet conditions in a session. In terms of the weather, anything can happen here.”
Read also: Newey admits Aston ‘guilty’ of leaving F1 drivers out of the loopThe Belgian weekend will therefore serve as another important data-gathering exercise before Honda’s upgraded specification arrives.
With Aston Martin already shifting much of its attention toward future development, the new power unit represents one of the few remaining opportunities to make a meaningful impact on the team’s current season.
For Honda, the goal is clear: extract every possible lesson from the existing engine, apply those findings to the revised specification, and provide Aston Martin with a stronger foundation for the battles ahead.
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