Honda warns Aston Martin power unit deficit could be worse at Austrian GP

Honda faces altitude test at the Red Bull Ring

Honda has warned that its Formula 1 power unit, used exclusively by Aston Martin, could face a greater relative deficit at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix because of the Red Bull Ring’s altitude and layout demands.

Honda trackside engineering director Shintaro Orihara said the first priority in FP1 will be understanding how the turbocharger and engine behave in those conditions. His warning follows wider concerns around the project, with Honda having already acknowledged major power unit challenges in its Aston Martin transition, as detailed in this related analysis: Honda admits Aston Martin transition has exposed major F1 power unit challenges.

Turbocharger and cooling under scrutiny

Orihara explained that under the previous architecture, the MGU-H had an effect on harvesting at the circuit. With that component no longer part of the 2026 regulations, Honda no longer has the same assistance for the turbocharger, creating a more demanding operating window for both turbocharger and engine at altitude.

“The first thing we will do in FP1 is to check the behavior of both the turbocharger and the engine,” he added. “Moreover, this week, we will expect high temperature at the track, so cooling will also be an important topic to factor in.”

The Red Bull Ring’s short lap also creates a specific power unit profile. Despite its compact layout, the circuit includes three significant straights, placing repeated demand on energy deployment and engine performance. Orihara admitted Honda may see a deficit to rival manufacturers, but said the team will work on energy management strategy and drivability to extract the most from its package.

Alonso admits Aston Martin is still waiting for answers

Aston Martin has already said it will not bring improvements to its current car until at least the Belgian Grand Prix in July, with the team focusing on a larger upgrade package after a difficult start.

Fernando Alonso acknowledged in Barcelona that the team began the regulations cycle behind where it needed to be. “Especially in our case, I think the power unit, we found very quickly that we were not up to speed, and yes, it was a little bit immature, the project itself,” he said.

Alonso added that Aston Martin understood early that it would need time to solve its issues, but Formula 1’s rhythm offers little breathing space. “We are navigating through that tough start and we have higher hopes for the second part of the year. But until then, every weekend is a little bit more or less the same story.”