2026 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

[Ashwinv16]

By the way this 300km/h limit, it is not due to active aero since now the front wing is active

So is it for heat management?

it looks like they just don't want to push it. could be heat, It's not ERS related that's for sure now. I just saw the telemetry before coming into the pits Alonso pulled from 20 to 240 in 4rth gear down the 3rd straight and did the same on 5th gear on the final straight before coming into the pits. Stroll did something similar yesterday. The ICE seems to be the issue.

Meaning, they are limiting the PU to 10 000 RPM for instance ?
Honda said they had concern with it, but we have no information if they will have a first evolution for next testing or first race, there are only 2 weeks before the engine is homologated

I mean Honda did state that themselves
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hond ... /10700445/

[Jambier]

it looks like they just don't want to push it. could be heat, It's not ERS related that's for sure now. I just saw the telemetry before coming into the pits Alonso pulled from 20 to 240 in 4rth gear down the 3rd straight and did the same on 5th gear on the final straight before coming into the pits. Stroll did something similar yesterday. The ICE seems to be the issue.

Meaning, they are limiting the PU to 10 000 RPM for instance ?
Honda said they had concern with it, but we have no information if they will have a first evolution for next testing or first race, there are only 2 weeks before the engine is homologated

I mean Honda did state that themselves
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hond ... /10700445/

Yes indeed a year ago.
But the current beta version they use, it is far from being good... so they are still very far.

[Jambier]

I still believe that 2027 can be a good season, with wins, a final good year before Alonso retire.

Newey will have had time to develop, Honda will fix the engine.
2026 will probably be a testing year then

[hollus]

They are running seriously low revs, often shifting upon reaching 11000 or 11200 and thus falling well below 10500 after the shift.
And that self imposed 300 km/h limit happens to be 10500 rpm in 8th.
So definitively ICE related and likely heating related.

[hollus]

Where are u guys getting the data from??

You can see it here, pick Driver Tracker, select a driver and then Telemetry.
https://www.formula1.com/en/timing/f1-live

And thanks for that!

[dr_cooke]

Although right now he is limited to 290 km/h again and not using 8th in the main straight

[Bence]

honda retains intellectual property on the old engine design. under the new rules they would have to completely redesign the combustion chamber as their old one is very illegal under the new rules. its not a 1 to 1 swap in the icu department as much as a lot of people have claimed. but, mercedes seem to have done a good job at it.

have they said for sure that the stoppage was caused by overheating issues, or is that just what people are deducing?

Sharing what I post in RB hardware topic.

Here is a breakdown of the manpower transition between RBPT (Honda assist partnership) and RBPT 2026 (RB).
Looking at the production team headcount, I reckon RBPT has already started producing Honda engine back in 2022 and RBPT26 has started taking over most of the R&D function from Honda since 2023.

By 2023, the RBR is already running RBPT 2026 engine without Honda IP obligation etc.

Adrian Newey decided to leave RBR back in early 2024, which mean he will have very little knowledge of RBPT powertrain development for 2026 engine. And this may be the reason why Honda PU may struggle this year.


RED BULL POWERTRAINS LIMITED
__________2021_2022_2023_2024
R&D______123__221___60___25
Production_9____121__52___18
Admin______65___97___23____1

RED BULL POWERTRAINS 2026 LIMITED
________________2022_2023_2024
R&D____________112__228__337
Production_______39__119__133
Admin___________15___18___55

My understanding is that Honda PU was always produced in Japan. That all the R&D was done in Japan and they were the only ones with the IP.

+1

Honda engines were produced in Japan only. The whole RBPT/Honda thing was only a label change. All operations in Sakura went on unchanged. That's how Honda was able to prevent the unwanted IP idea leakage after they realized that by externalizing their engine production, the entire program would be transparent and visible for unwanted parties.
Yes, there was some degree of personnel reshuffling, but this rotation is normal in Honda's traditional culture.

[CHT]

I think you are half right, Honda ICE is produced in Japan, but the ESS is produce in UK.
And I think this is where RBPT 2026 will have an advantage.

https://global.honda/en/topics/2025/c_2 ... 08eng.html

*1 Red Bull Powertrains: PU manufacturing company within the Red Bull Group, responsible for ESS production and operation from 2022 to 2025

[FNTC]

Alonso is racking up the laps this morning at least, 55 so far. And they are less than 5s off the pace with limited rpms and speed. Will be interesting to see when they unleash the full power at some point.
Honda could be playing it conservative with the sustainable fuel in the start to get data.
Mercedes had only 3 laps this morning and reportedly has to change the engine. And red bull has issues too today.

[auem123]

I think you are half right, Honda ICE is produced in Japan, but the ESS is produce in UK.
And I think this is where RBPT 2026 will have an advantage.

https://global.honda/en/topics/2025/c_2 ... 08eng.html

*1 Red Bull Powertrains: PU manufacturing company within the Red Bull Group, responsible for ESS production and operation from 2022 to 2025

But does Honda take foreign engineers in their Sakura factory? Unlike big names which moves from one manufacturer to others , I don't hear someone big moving to Honda. Is is true for lower level also?

[Snorked]

Good amount of laps, hopefully the afternoon running is even better. Alonso reached a top speed of 318kph @ 11k rpm

[Jambier]

Alonso is racking up the laps this morning at least, 55 so far. And they are less than 5s off the pace with limited rpms and speed. Will be interesting to see when they unleash the full power at some point.
Honda could be playing it conservative with the sustainable fuel in the start to get data.
Mercedes had only 3 laps this morning and reportedly has to change the engine. And red bull has issues too today.

55 laps, and a top speed in progress !
So far that's the best we have seen.
I hope we can see another 50 this afternoon and full power tomorrow

[vas_04614]

Max 11 laps stints were done in morning. If they can manage a 20+ lap stint in afternoon session would mean some more progress

[Nikosar]

Mercedes have experienced an engine problem after only 3 laps.

People are poiting fingers too quickly on Honda.

[FNTC]