Honda's Latest Power Unit Makes Track Debut with Aston Martin at Hungaroring

Honda's updated power unit took to the track for the first time during an Aston Martin filming day at the Hungaroring, in anticipation of its race debut at the Dutch Grand Prix. This new engine is set to enhance Aston Martin's already upgraded AMR26, which recently underwent no fewer than 16 developments. These changes have shown promise, helping Fernando Alonso make the team’s first Q2 appearance of the season, albeit finishing in P13 and P14 alongside teammate Lance Stroll.

Following the Hungarian Grand Prix, Aston Martin stayed on for Pirelli's tyre testing before their own filming day. Honda’s Trackside General Manager, Shintaro Orihara, shared that the team collected critical data in Hungary, which will aid them in the upcoming races. "We will now take the important step of introducing our new-spec power unit in the Netherlands," Orihara stated, marking a significant milestone in their partnership with Aston Martin.

On the filming day, Honda confirmed to F1.com that the new engine was run in the AMR26, with further testing planned at Zandvoort in a few weeks. Aston Martin's Chief Trackside Officer, Mike Krack, explained the collaborative efforts with Honda, admitting the partnership had a rocky start but has since improved significantly. According to Krack, the teams have worked through challenges and are now more cohesive across both the Silverstone and Sakura operations.

Krack noted, "It’s easy to point fingers, but we recognized the need to work together to overcome our difficulties. This approach has strengthened our relationship considerably, from the garage to the engineering office." With the summer break looming, both teams are optimistic about the improvements and are eager to see how these changes will translate onto the track in the latter half of the season.