2026 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

[Rikrikrik]

Well, it seems like it's only difficult for Honda...

Yeah, that's something I just can't understand and I find it pretty irritating. When other teams bring engines or have updates, it seems like they never have problems with anything? And they simply put the engine in and get their... improvements, while Honda is always suffering with a bunch of things that we don't hear about from the others. It seems like Honda always struggles a lot more than any other in any other area. We haven't seen any manufacturer with as many difficulties in all areas as Honda.

[zoroastar]

whats wild to me is that it doesnt seem like anyone is having the driveability issues that aston are. admittedly i havent payed as much attention to the other teams issues, but its been an issue with us since day one, and still continues to be. i dont get it

I think a lot of it has to do with the power management software. It needs a lot of data to optimize and for consistent data you need stable hardware, which they have not had since testing. It happened with their spec 1 PU and again when they brought spec 2. It also probably depends on how good the software is at learning. Its such a new area of differentiation in F1 that its almost impossible to speculate about. But I do think its the key to this ruleset once all the hardware differences normalize.

yeah its very complicated im sure. but everybody else is dealing with it. thats whats frustrating.

[peewon]

yeah its very complicated im sure. but everybody else is dealing with it. thats whats frustrating.

Because theyve had stable Power Units throughout testing.

[Ashwinv16]

whats wild to me is that it doesnt seem like anyone is having the driveability issues that aston are. admittedly i havent payed as much attention to the other teams issues, but its been an issue with us since day one, and still continues to be. i dont get it

I think a lot of it has to do with the power management software. It needs a lot of data to optimize and for consistent data you need stable hardware, which they have not had since testing. It happened with their spec 1 PU and again when they brought spec 2. It also probably depends on how good the software is at learning. Its such a new area of differentiation in F1 that its almost impossible to speculate about. But I do think its the key to this ruleset once all the hardware differences normalize.

yeah its very complicated im sure. but everybody else is dealing with it. thats whats frustrating.

You are are not gonna get problems if you bring 10 of 15 hp. But you will get problem if you plan to bring 50-70hp. Mind you it looks like they only got 10-20hp out of it cause well that's where the power but the Torque map is the one that's changed to a more efficient profile. The power is not gonna go up but handling improvement means better/increased torque map meaning better recharge and deployment.

[ispano6]

Honda are actively looking into the possible loop holes that other teams may be employing, according to Asaki. It may be a matter of how they read the nuance of the regulations and follow it to the T instead of interpreting it in a gray area way. This includes the methodology in which the fuel composition is procured and the supply chain that produces it. The wording of the regulations regarding the fuel chemistry and legality is quite open to how the processes involved changes the type of chemistry allowed.

[ispano6]

I don't think that, after constantly improving essentially the same V6 bottom end since 2017, there was much more they could have improved going into 2026.

The rule change fundamentally affected combustion. The outlawing of cylinder-pressure sensors, the radical change in fuel, the 16:1 maximum compression ratio, and the reduced fuel flow all effectively erased many of the combustion-side advantages that Honda and the other manufacturers had been developing prior to 2026.

The 2026 regulations were a major reset of the combustion side of the ICE, rather than simply another evolution of the existing V6.

The FIA did change where the MGU-K connects to the crankshaft. but I still see the combustion being where all the gains will come from on the ICE side.

The elimination of the MGU-H arguably hurt Honda the most, as it was also their strong suit. Although no one ever mentions it, the MGUH removal for the 50:50 split is arguably the biggest regression of this formula as the MGUK isn't capable of making up for the loss of the MGUH's contributions.

Honda is dealing with abnormal combustion right now. They have to figure this out with their new fuel partner.

Funny, I got the feeling we talked it to death.

Just saying in your paragraph above you didn't mention MGUH at all, which is actually the biggest change on the hybrid side aside from the larger MGUK. And no, the loss of MGUH has seldom been discussed if at all. Especially the pundits and publications. Even fuel is rarely mentioned, even though it is biggest change on the combustion side. The technical competition lies there, as well as the CR loophole.

[GoranF1]

Alonso influence in F1 is amazing.
After this Honda will have no excuses anymore, they basically have open budget to fix the engine.

https://x.com/Nachez98/status/2098340812639641792

[collindsilva]

No updates listed for AMR, is the lighter gearbox arrived yet..

[TyreSlip]

No updates listed for AMR, is the lighter gearbox arrived yet..

I do not think Aston Martin have to declare lighter parts if its shape is still the same.

[TyreSlip]

Honda are actively looking into the possible loop holes that other teams may be employing, according to Asaki. It may be a matter of how they read the nuance of the regulations and follow it to the T instead of interpreting it in a gray area way. This includes the methodology in which the fuel composition is procured and the supply chain that produces it. The wording of the regulations regarding the fuel chemistry and legality is quite open to how the processes involved changes the type of chemistry allowed.

That is the way it should be. Exploit the rules and create a competitive advantage for oneself.

[diffuser]

Alonso influence in F1 is amazing.
After this Honda will have no excuses anymore, they basically have open budget to fix the engine.

https://x.com/Nachez98/status/2098340812639641792

Juan Montoya said yesterday that he thinks Alonso has already signed for next year and they just haven't announced it. He didn't say why they haven't announced it but I think you can guess as to why they haven't.

[diffuser]

Honda are actively looking into the possible loop holes that other teams may be employing, according to Asaki. It may be a matter of how they read the nuance of the regulations and follow it to the T instead of interpreting it in a gray area way. This includes the methodology in which the fuel composition is procured and the supply chain that produces it. The wording of the regulations regarding the fuel chemistry and legality is quite open to how the processes involved changes the type of chemistry allowed.

That is the way it should be. Exploit the rules and create a competitive advantage for oneself.

I'm not sure that is the way "it should be". It's debatable that we should be looking for ways to circumvent the "spirit" of rules, however, I agree that F1 has traditionally been, and still is, about engineering challenging the rules.

[KimiRai]

No updates listed for AMR, is the lighter gearbox arrived yet..

If not here then Baku most likely.

[diffuser]

No updates listed for AMR, is the lighter gearbox arrived yet..

I do not think Aston Martin have to declare lighter parts if its shape is still the same.

Sorry not picking on you....

You can't just update the gearbox to make it lighter, tge rules prevent that. It can only be updated for reliability. Even then it's complicated.

Interesting article https://f1chronicle.com/f1-gearbox-rule ... mandatory.

"This dual function means that the gearbox design cannot be optimized purely for transmission performance without regard to its structural role, and the structural requirements it must meet are among the factors that determine how much scope the team has to minimize its mass. A lighter gearbox casing that meets the transmission requirements but not the structural requirements is not compliant, since both sets of requirements are mandatory. The structural tests that verify the gearbox casing’s integrity as a chassis member are part of the homologation process, and changes to the casing that affect its structural performance require the same retesting that would be required for equivalent changes to any other certified structural component."

[SSJ4]

Did Honda run the engine in a reserved setting?. Over 40kmh slower than Audi in speed trap