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Honda will put its updated Formula 1 power unit through its first track test this week, ahead of its planned race debut with Aston Martin after the summer break.
The Japanese manufacturer has faced intense scrutiny during what has so far been a difficult return to Formula 1 as Aston Martin’s engine partner. The current power unit is significantly slower than those of its rivals, contributing to the Silverstone-based team’s position at the back of the field after several seasons as a midfield contender.
Honda qualified for the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) scheme under this year’s technical regulations. That has allowed the manufacturer to pursue a substantial increase in power, with the results now set to be assessed in the AMR26.
The timing is significant for Aston Martin, which introduced its own upgrade package at the Hungaroring. The B-specification AMR26 showed clear improvement through its aerodynamic changes, and the team now hopes Honda’s power-unit development can deliver a complementary step forward. Aston Martin’s Hungary upgrade restored its qualifying fight.
Honda trackside chief Shintaro Orihara confirmed after the Hungarian Grand Prix that the new specification will first run during a filming day at the same circuit on Wednesday. It will then be scheduled for its first race appearance at Zandvoort.
“In Hungary, we have been supporting the team with the power unit integration,” Orihara said. “We’ve also been able to collect vital data, which will help us come the next race.”
He added: “We will now take the important step of introducing our new spec power unit in the Netherlands. Before then, during Wednesday’s filming day, we will run the new engine in the AMR26 for the first time, before the summer shutdown commences.”
Aston Martin left Hungary without points, with Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso finishing 13th and 14th. However, Orihara viewed the result as evidence of progress amid the team’s difficult start to the season.
“Now we are back to racing the field,” he said. “Then, all improvement is very important to catch up to others. To introduce the new power unit in Zandvoort is quite important, now the chassis is working well. So our power unit should bring some laptime gain.”
The next stage will therefore test whether Aston Martin’s revised chassis and Honda’s updated engine can produce the combined improvement the team needs. Even without further points, maintaining that upward trajectory would represent a significant outcome from its current position.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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