Former Honda chief backs Aston Martin to become regular Q3 contenders

Aston Martin’s upgrade delivers early promise

Aston Martin’s difficult opening to the 2026 Formula 1 season may finally be giving way to a more encouraging development curve. Former Honda engine chief Yasuaki Asaka believes Adrian Newey’s latest work on the AMR26 can lift the Silverstone-based team into regular Q3 appearances.

The team’s first half of the campaign was marked by disappointing pace and early struggles from Honda’s power unit. That picture improved at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Aston Martin introduced a substantial 16-part upgrade package led by Newey, its design chief and team principal.

The package has not yet been proven as a complete transformation, but the revised chassis produced encouraging signs at the first time of asking. Fernando Alonso also reached Q2 in qualifying for the first time this season, despite Aston Martin having yet to introduce its expected power-unit update.

The scale of the Hungary gain has already drawn praise from Lance Stroll, who described it as potentially the most encouraging upgrade in the team’s history. That assessment adds weight to the view that Aston Martin’s recovery is beginning with the chassis, rather than the engine.

Honda now faces the key test

Asaka, who now commentates on Formula 1 races in Japan, believes Honda must match the progress delivered by Newey’s work if Aston Martin is to move consistently into the midfield fight. In a recent column for Web Sportiva, he said the next power-unit update would be judged by its ability to restore competitiveness.

“I believe we are currently at a stage where we are being judged on the speed at which we can return to where we used to be,” Asaka wrote. “I think it would be a great result for Honda if this PU update enables them to compete consistently in the midfield.”

He added that the chassis changes had already improved Aston Martin’s competitiveness and expressed hope that the team could soon target the top 10. The power-unit update is expected after the summer break, giving Honda an opportunity to convert the AMR26’s improved platform into more consistent qualifying performance.

A gradual rise rather than an instant turnaround

Sources inside Aston Martin’s Formula 1 operation reportedly expect the upgrades to be fully optimised by the Spanish Grand Prix in September. Asaka therefore sees regular Q3 appearances as a realistic next step, rather than an immediate challenge for victories.

“The upgraded chassis has only just been released, and I expect optimisation to progress rapidly from here on,” he said. “Ultimately, it would be no surprise to see them become regulars in Q3.”

Asaka remains confident in Honda’s younger engineers, citing their previous title success alongside Red Bull and urging greater urgency in the development programme. For Aston Martin, the second half of the season will show whether the Hungary package was the start of a genuine recovery or simply an isolated step forward.