2026 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

[AR3-GP]

There still has not been a root cause identified for the vibrations. After isolating the battery, they will do the same for the driver just to try and finish the race.

[Bill]

According to indications emerging from Japan , the source of the vibrations may not be exclusively linked to the power unit. Attention has also shifted to the transmission, an area on which the team has changed its approach compared to the past.

Wouldn't that be something if they find out it's been the AM transmission all along ?

And how do you think a gearbox would generate such intense vibrations that it rattles the entire car? Something so messed up would destroy itself almost instantly and never leave the lab.

According to wanatabe measures will necessary for both engine and chassis.

[ispano6]

For those of you who don't know, it was Lawrence Stroll who asked and convinced Honda to return to F1. He felt being a customer of MB would never yield world championships. It turns out he is probably right as MB holds all the cheat codes.

Honda didn't decide to come back on a whim. There has NEVER been 100% biofuel used in F1 before and the fuel itself has less energy than previous blends. Aramco has never supplied F1 grade fuel until this year.

Not only is CR 16:1 backwards in terms of thermal efficiency but the technology of the PU itself minus the fuel is actually a regression with the loss of the MGU-H.

In any case, nothing will improve without fixes to the car. The fact that it runs with less vibration with more fuel in the car is a clear indicator the chassis lacks rigidity in key places of the chassis.

[FNTC]

https://shigasports.com/f1/aston-martin ... interview/

DeepL translation:

[Japanese GP] HRC President Watanabe discusses Aston Martin and Honda: Vibration issues, struggles and the possibility of a Japanese driver
F1 Grand Prix · F1 Teams · F1 News · Aston Martin · Honda F1 · Japanese GP
Shiga Sports
26 March 2026
[Japanese GP] Aston Martin × Honda: The Current State of Reliability Issues and the Possibility of Fielding a Japanese Driver

At the Japanese Grand Prix media day, Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), gave an interview.

He spoke candidly about the factors behind the struggles faced under the new partnership with Aston Martin, the current status of the vibration issues, and even his thoughts on Japanese drivers.
Feelings for Suzuka and the Current Position

Suzuka is a home track and, as it is the circuit built by founder Soichiro Honda, it is a special place that represents the very origins of Honda’s challenge.

Precisely because it is a venue where many Honda fans gather, the desire to achieve results is strong.

On the other hand, competing under the new partnership is not easy, and the team is currently struggling. Although improvements are being made, there are still many challenges, and it remains unclear how much they can improve their results.

Nevertheless, he stated that by continuing to challenge without giving up in front of the fans, he hopes to convey that spirit.
Reflections on Melbourne and Current Challenges

During the pre-season tests in Bahrain, there was a significant amount of vibration. Whilst it wasn’t quite as bad during real-time testing, it was reportedly very severe when combined with the actual car body.

As they were unable to conduct sufficient testing ahead of the season opener, they tried out numerous countermeasures and implemented one of them for the opening race. This proved to have a certain effect, and improvements have been seen in the two races since.

The strain on the battery has been reduced compared to before, and it is no longer in a state where it becomes unusable after a single race. As the team must compete with a limited battery supply, this improvement is a crucial factor.

On the other hand, it is expected to take a little more time to resolve the vibrations felt by the driver. The root cause has not yet been fully identified, and the team is currently working on gradual improvements.

It remains unclear how much improvement can be achieved at Suzuka, but the plan is to build on what is gained here for the next race.
Cancellation of the two Middle Eastern races, the impact of bringing forward ADUO and the cost cap

Regarding ADUO (Additional Development Upgrade), under the current rules this is still some way off, and the team is unable to undertake development aimed at improving performance immediately. Consequently, at this stage, the priority is on improving reliability.

If ADUO is permitted, the team will be able to commence development aimed at improving performance and invest resources, making more substantial improvements a prospect.
Measures and Relationship with Aston Martin

The perception is that the relationship is not bad, and we are currently in the process of building trust. It is understood that trust cannot be established in a short period but must be built up over time.

In this context, it is considered important for members of both teams to stay for extended periods whilst development progresses, and we are actually working together to resolve issues.
Are the development strategies for the chassis and engine aligned?

Yes. Enrico is also doing a great deal. We are working together with a shared understanding of the issues. We are communicating closely, and we must continue to support that.

Of course, we are also in discussion with Newey and with Mr Stroll. The relationship is good. Although Enrico is not here, we hold regular meetings.

Andy is responsible for managing relationships with several partners, including those supplying fuel, oil and lubricants. As this is a new initiative, we need to build up our experience in this area.

Andy maintains an overview of the whole picture, keeping track of not only Honda but also the fuel suppliers and Aston Martin. Crack works alongside Mr Orihara, handling operations at the racetrack. He has built a good working relationship with Mr Orihara.
Current ICE performance

It is difficult to comment definitively on the current situation, but further power gains are required.

Even if vibration issues are successfully resolved and full power can be utilised, that alone will not be sufficient; it is believed there is still room for improvement.
What is the team’s view as a partner regarding the Neway personnel matter?

They are not fully aware of the details and do not currently perceive it as a problem.

Although he has not yet met with Newey in person, Newey has visited the team, and they plan to have a thorough discussion in Japan. He intends to proceed with discussions aimed at improvement involving everyone, including Stroll and Andy.

He stated that he does not perceive any issues regarding communication and respects the team’s decisions, believing that such judgements should be made by the team itself.
Will developments in Honda’s core business (EV-related) affect its F1 activities?

Whilst there would naturally be an impact if the core business were to falter, he explained that, at present, they have been sent off with the message: ‘We want you to deliver solid results.’

He added that Honda has shown understanding of the situation on the F1 side and has told them: ‘Please carry on without worrying about us.’ Against this backdrop, he said the Sakura team members feel reassured as they tackle the races.
Had Aston been informed in advance of Honda’s changes to its F1 structure?

Whilst acknowledging that there may have been some misunderstandings amidst the redistribution of personnel across racing, mass production and EV development, they explained that the return of the fourth-generation members had never been planned from the outset.

On the other hand, they admitted to delays in recruitment and revealed that, after concluding the project in 2024, personnel had been transferred to carbon neutrality and cutting-edge fields.

He also reflected that in 2022, the number of engineers and the budget were smaller than those of other teams, but emphasised that Aston Martin had been fully informed of this situation and that there was no concealment of information. He stated that they are now working with a team comprising the right people for the job.
Were the results of the first two races within expectations?

He stated that his frank assessment is that they are struggling more than anticipated.

Although he had been confident in the power unit’s maturity during the partnership with Red Bull, he said he had braced himself for a certain degree of difficulty due to the transition to a new partnership and new regulations.

Nevertheless, he explained that the extent of the reliability issues has exceeded expectations and that the team is in a difficult situation. However, he indicated that he can see what needs to be done next and did not appear pessimistic on that point.
Is HRC’s F1 operation an independent entity?

Whilst it is not entirely clear whether it is completely independent, he stated that they are currently working towards that direction.

Currently, they are building the structure whilst referencing examples from other manufacturers, and expressed their intention to strengthen the F1 project, using Audi in particular as a benchmark.
Is there a possibility of appointing a Japanese driver?

He explained that, as they do not currently own a team, it is inevitable that they do not have the final say on drivers, but that they are in a position to exchange views with their partners.

Therefore, he said it is possible to make recommendations along the lines of ‘What do you think?’, and expressed a desire to build a relationship with Aston Martin where such discussions can take place in the future.

Regarding Yuki Tsunoda and Ayumu Iwasa, whilst he expressed a desire to race alongside them, he emphasised that it is first and foremost important for each of them to firmly establish their careers as racing drivers. He added that he would be delighted if there were an opportunity to race together again in the future.
Has the cause of the vibrations been identified?

Although several factors have been identified, the root cause has not yet been fully pinpointed.

At present, improvements are being made to absorb the vibrations, whilst at the same time, they are continuing to explore ways to reduce the vibrations themselves.

Although there are several possible countermeasures, they state that they will continue to work towards an early resolution.
Is the ICE the main cause of the vibrations?

It is certain that the initial vibrations were caused by the ICE (internal combustion engine).

However, they explain that the actual manifestation of the vibration changes when combined with the vehicle body, so it is not simply a problem with the engine alone.

Consequently, measures that include integration with the vehicle body are necessary, and at the same time, efforts to reduce the vibration from the engine itself are also required.

[AR3-GP]

Well this is weird. According to Ashwinv16 everyone is either "butthurt" or lying.

Marko told Austrian publication Oe24: "I’ve been in contact with him (Newey). He’s not doing well. There are problems with this project that won’t be solved quickly.”

Can Honda produce a world championship capable engine in just 3 to 6 months? I doubt its going to happen.

Yeeah I wouldn't trust Marko either.

Also considering how things are going I won't trust anything from any Spanish butthurts for now. They just adding fuel tot eh fire for now reason.

[mzso]

F1 weekend warm up say AMF1/Honda have implemented counter measures in the steering to offset the vibrations. The goal is to complete the race with atleast one car.

Okay, so now it won't be the driver that fails first. It will be a good stress test as to which parts fail first. Battery? Gearbox? Maybe the engine itself. Or some smaller part gets shaken off. At least they'll really learn how to make the car durable.
I wish they tried full power to see what the PU can do, even if the ICE destroys itself in a few laps.

[mzso]

And how do you think a gearbox would generate such intense vibrations that it rattles the entire car? Something so messed up would destroy itself almost instantly and never leave the lab.

And how do you think an engine would generate such intense vibrations that it rattles the entire car? Something so messed up would destroy itself almost instantly and never leave the lab.

And yet, here we are. Clearly something very odd has happened in integration of the whole (engine / gearbox / chassis), that made some expected vibrations (?) a whole lot worse. Bear in mind Aston engineers have been over in Japan for some time as well, working on this, and it seems that there's no easy solution.

The only other explanation I can think of is that one of the parties (probably Honda-side) is playing down their problems and not fully admitting to how bad things were, but I don't think that's the case.

The engine is the source of power... With large heavy parts. And it always vibrates. In this case far too much.
My guess is during downsizing, they thought they could get away with increased vibrations. But it turned out to be very much impactful. Or they messed up something really badly when trying to catch up to their targets.

It sounds ever more like a Honda problem. With Newey frankly saying that Honda was falling behind and not even open about it with AM. And now Cowell being stationed there.

[TyreSlip]

It is certain that the initial vibrations were caused by the ICE (internal combustion engine).

What I said the entire time before people jumped on me and claimed it was the MGU-K.

[AR3-GP]

Changing the vibration profile of the engine itself will require a new crankshaft and firing order. Not the work of a minute.

[FNTC]

Watanabe also confirming they haven't been running at full power:

Even if vibration issues are successfully resolved and full power can be utilised, that alone will not be sufficient; it is believed there is still room for improvement.

[AR3-GP]

Here it is from the horse's mouth. Let there be no more doubt:

Aston Martin staff are still stationed at HRC Sakura to develop to improve performance, including the abnormal vibration that has become a problem. President Watanabe says that countermeasures against abnormal vibrations are not something that PU can do alone.

"Enrico [Cardile/Chief Technical Officer) has also been working with us quite a bit."

"Vibration problems are not something that can be cured with PU alone, but I think we need to work together with Aston Martin to tackle the same problem. I think the relationship between the top executives in the field is working well. They communicate very closely."

https://jp.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-20 ... /10808153/

[diffuser]

And how do you think a gearbox would generate such intense vibrations that it rattles the entire car? Something so messed up would destroy itself almost instantly and never leave the lab.

And how do you think an engine would generate such intense vibrations that it rattles the entire car? Something so messed up would destroy itself almost instantly and never leave the lab.

And yet, here we are. Clearly something very odd has happened in integration of the whole (engine / gearbox / chassis), that made some expected vibrations (?) a whole lot worse. Bear in mind Aston engineers have been over in Japan for some time as well, working on this, and it seems that there's no easy solution.

The only other explanation I can think of is that one of the parties (probably Honda-side) is playing down their problems and not fully admitting to how bad things were, but I don't think that's the case.

The engine is the source of power... With large heavy parts. And it always vibrates. In this case far too much.
My guess is during downsizing, they thought they could get away with increased vibrations. But it turned out to be very much impactful. Or they messed up something really badly when trying to catch up to their targets.

It sounds ever more like a Honda problem. With Newey frankly saying that Honda was falling behind and not even open about it with AM. And now Cowell being stationed there.

Think in F1 they're using 90° even-fire V6. Means the crankpins are 120 degrees apart. I think it makes secondary balancing tricky. You'd think none of that would have changed from last year though.

[mzso]

In any case, nothing will improve without fixes to the car. The fact that it runs with less vibration with more fuel in the car is a clear indicator the chassis lacks rigidity in key places of the chassis.

I think your grasping at straws here, trying to find blame elsewhere. I highly doubt AM decided to make the monocoque bendy.
Actually the opposite was said, carbon-fiber composite is very rigid, so it transmits all of it.

Changing the vibration profile of the engine itself will require a new crankshaft and firing order. Not the work of a minute.

Isn't the firing order fixed by regulation? Someone mentioned something like that before here.

What I said the entire time before people jumped on me and claimed it was the MGU-K.

I never understood that. It doesn't make sense.

https://shigasports.com/f1/aston-martin ... interview/

Rather disappointing read such things as they looking at Audi as a benchmark.
Also, that they were sending people away from the F1 engine department in 2024... No wonder they didn't succeed in developing this engine.
And the fact that performance upgrades are not even within consideration, "a matter for the future". Still knee deep in vibration and reliability disaster recovery.

[mzso]

Here it is from the horse's mouth. Let there be no more doubt:

Aston Martin staff are still stationed at HRC Sakura to develop to improve performance, including the abnormal vibration that has become a problem. President Watanabe says that countermeasures against abnormal vibrations are not something that PU can do alone.

"Enrico [Cardile/Chief Technical Officer) has also been working with us quite a bit."

"Vibration problems are not something that can be cured with PU alone, but I think we need to work together with Aston Martin to tackle the same problem. I think the relationship between the top executives in the field is working well. They communicate very closely."

https://jp.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-20 ... /10808153/

I think this comes from the same article as shared above.
It comes out differently, probably also depending on context and translator used:

It is certain that the initial vibrations originate from the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE).

However, he explained that the actual manifestation of vibrations changes when combined with the chassis, so it is not simply an issue of the engine alone.

Mentioning of Cardile seems to come from a different part of the article. Unless they mingle several interviews.

Are the Development Directions for the Chassis and Engine Aligned?

Yes. Enrico (Cardile, Aston Martin Chief Technical Officer) is also doing various things. Both sides are working together with a shared awareness of the problems. They are communicating meticulously, and we must support that process.

Of course, they are also talking with Newey, and with Mr. (Lawrence) Stroll as well. The relationship is not bad. Although Enrico is not here (at the Japanese GP), they hold regular meetings.

[AR3-GP]

Here it is from the horse's mouth. Let there be no more doubt:

Aston Martin staff are still stationed at HRC Sakura to develop to improve performance, including the abnormal vibration that has become a problem. President Watanabe says that countermeasures against abnormal vibrations are not something that PU can do alone.

"Enrico [Cardile/Chief Technical Officer) has also been working with us quite a bit."

"Vibration problems are not something that can be cured with PU alone, but I think we need to work together with Aston Martin to tackle the same problem. I think the relationship between the top executives in the field is working well. They communicate very closely."

https://jp.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-20 ... /10808153/

I think this comes from the same article as shared above.
It comes out differently, probably also depending on context and translator used:

It is certain that the initial vibrations originate from the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE).

However, he explained that the actual manifestation of vibrations changes when combined with the chassis, so it is not simply an issue of the engine alone.

Mentioning of Cardile seems to come from a different part of the article. Unless they mingle several interviews.

Are the Development Directions for the Chassis and Engine Aligned?

Yes. Enrico (Cardile, Aston Martin Chief Technical Officer) is also doing various things. Both sides are working together with a shared awareness of the problems. They are communicating meticulously, and we must support that process.

Of course, they are also talking with Newey, and with Mr. (Lawrence) Stroll as well. The relationship is not bad. Although Enrico is not here (at the Japanese GP), they hold regular meetings.

Unlike the shiga-sports long form zero punctuation article, japanese motorsport.com make clear what was said by Watanabe using quotations.

"Vibration problems are not something that can be cured with PU alone, but I think we need to work together with Aston Martin to tackle the same problem. I think the relationship between the top executives in the field is working well. They communicate very closely."