Honda reveals “secret” details of Aston Martin’s spec-two engine upgrade

Honda targets a step forward at Zandvoort

Honda has revealed limited details of the engine upgrade it will introduce for Aston Martin at the Dutch Grand Prix, as the partnership seeks a response to a difficult first season together.

The new power unit will be fitted to Aston Martin’s challenger when the season resumes at the end of the summer break later this month. It follows the team’s own upgrade, introduced in Budapest last month, which delivered a notable improvement in performance.

Honda and Aston Martin have both faced struggles this year, making the Netherlands an important opportunity to assess whether the manufacturer’s first significant development can produce a similar step. Honda’s earlier difficulties are explored in Honda’s explanation of Aston Martin’s challenging F1 start.

Combustion efficiency at the centre of development

Honda’s chief F1 engineer, Shintaro Orihara, said the programme focused primarily on improving engine performance by accelerating combustion. While describing some of the work as “secret”, he disclosed several areas that had been changed for the new specification.

“We focused to improve engine performance, to make combustion faster,” Orihara said.

The development includes a revised pre-chamber intended to make combustion faster, alongside a modified piston shape designed to achieve good combustion. Honda has also changed part of the lubrication system in an effort to reduce friction.

“We changed the pre-chamber to make combustion faster, and we also changed the piston shape to get good combustion,” Orihara explained. “We modified some lubrication system to reduce friction. We had quite a big list to improve engine performance.”

Honda keeps horsepower figure private

Honda has not disclosed the precise power gain expected from the specification-two engine. Orihara said the company had achieved its internal target, however, and expressed confidence in the work completed by the HRC Sakura factory team.

“I can’t disclose the detailed number, but we have achieved our internal target,” he said. “I’m confident in what the HRC Sakura factory guys achieved for the spec two engine.”

The real measure will come when the upgraded Aston Martin returns to competition in the Netherlands. Honda is “excited” to bring the new specification to the circuit, but its performance remains to be established on track.