Technical improvements offer encouragement, but results remain elusive.
Baku, Azerbaijan.
Honda believes its partnership with Aston Martin is moving in the right direction despite another difficult period for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in the 2026 Formula 1 season. Ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Shintaro Orihara, Honda’s trackside general manager and chief engineer, highlighted improvements in engine drivability during the races at Monza and Madrid. His assessment introduces a measure of technical optimism, although recent results demonstrate that progress has yet to translate into consistent competitiveness.
The Japanese manufacturer has struggled to adapt its power unit to Formula 1’s new technical regulations. Limited engine performance and difficulties managing electrical energy have affected Aston Martin throughout the season, complicating the team’s efforts to capitalize on improvements to its chassis.
Honda introduced an updated engine specification at the Dutch Grand Prix, concentrating on the internal combustion engine. Subsequent work has focused on drivability, particularly the consistency and predictability of power delivery. Engineers have also been refining calibration settings to improve the interaction between the engine and the electrical components of the power unit.
Orihara considers the performances at Monza and Madrid encouraging from an engineering perspective because the circuits impose substantially different demands. Monza emphasizes high-speed performance, while Madrid combines street-circuit characteristics with sections requiring precise acceleration and control. Identifying improvements under contrasting conditions gives Honda additional data for its development program.
However, Aston Martin’s race results offer a more difficult picture. Alonso and Stroll both retired from the Italian Grand Prix, while the Spanish driver finished penultimate among classified runners in Madrid. Stroll failed to complete the Madrid race, leaving the team without a meaningful competitive reward from its latest efforts.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix presents another demanding examination. Baku features one of the longest full-throttle sections on the Formula 1 calendar, placing substantial demands on engine output and energy deployment. Its historic city-center section introduces an entirely different challenge, with narrow corners, nearby barriers and repeated acceleration zones making drivability particularly important.
Honda’s immediate priorities include refining energy management and adjusting engine settings to improve performance across these contrasting sections. Orihara has emphasized incremental development rather than promising an immediate transformation. Each improvement must be evaluated against the performance of rival manufacturers, whose own development programs are continuing.
Aston Martin’s chassis improvements have already demonstrated that progress in one area does not automatically resolve weaknesses elsewhere. The team’s overall competitiveness depends on the interaction between aerodynamics, mechanical performance and the power unit.
For Alonso, the remaining races will provide an opportunity to assess whether the partnership’s technical development can deliver more reliable and competitive performances. For Honda, Baku offers a particularly relevant test of whether improved drivability can coexist with the energy demands of a high-speed circuit.
The distinction is fundamental: identifying the correct engineering direction is an important development milestone, but its significance must ultimately be demonstrated through measurable performance on the track.
Phoenix24: claridad en la zona gris. / Phoenix24: clarity in the grey zone.