2026 Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

[mzso]

No info on gardening leave, but says with immediate effect. Strange.

Maybe there isn't one. He can walk because his contracted role was compromised.

that makes sense.

What does?

[AR3-GP]

that makes sense.

What does?

Newey handpicked Wheatley.

[mzso]

In addition seems they plan the the MGU-K relocation for Suzuka.

Relocating the MGU-K can improve cooling, reduce vibration, and ease mechanical stress on the drivetrain and wiring. All this is done under the « reliability fix window »

Where do you get this from?

[PlatinumZealot]

Posted on another thread...

This is a completely new relationship for both Aston Martin and Honda. It will take some time.

Honda's transition over to Aston Martin and the developing of the new engine has not been fast enough, the integration between the two teams (AM, Honda) has not been smooth obviously and I think that is due to Honda wanting to go out with a bang with Red Bull and win the title and develop the 2025 engine all the way to the end for Max.

During 2024 and 2025 how much was Honda Japan focused on the development of the 2026 engine and integrating it into the Aston Martin chassis? This was going to take time between both Honda and Aston Martin...

Honda was focused on winning the driver's title with Max and Red Bull as they stated that 2025 they wanted to go all in to win the title with their last year at Red Bull. They weren't putting 100% attention and focus to their 2026 engine the way Mercedes and Ferrari were. Mercedes and Ferrari had more time to develop their 2026 car as McLaren and Red Bull fought it out to the end to the last race.

This happens to teams in F1 when they are trying to win the title, they often times put so much focus on developing their car to the final race they neglect next year's car. Flavio Briatore said this is what happened to Renault Benetton after the 2006 season when they won the title, the car was horrible for 2007 and they were towards the back of the grid.

During 2025, Aston Martin was behind the scenes developing their 2026 chassis but, had no Honda engine and no gearbox specifically for Honda. Also, the massive reshuffle/restructuring of Honda F1 engineers who were moved on to other parts of the company and a new younger generation of Honda engineers are there.

Whether people like it or not, Honda does not operate like Mercedes and Ferrari do. Honda needs better long term strategic planning and development.

After the summer break, there might be a possibility and chance Aston Martin/Honda will be up there fighting around 5th or 6th position ?

Made up stories!!

The Honda engine stopped development in 2023. It was minor tweaks after that. They didn't need Sakura to do that. Notice Honda stopped releasing engine update photos after that point. The Honda gurus were simply disbanded to other departments in Honda. Their F1 engine department simply didn't exist anymore until they hurridely accepted to come back into the sport for 2026 under the simpler engine rule set. Problem was they couldn't get all the gurus to come back and work their magic in such a short notice of time. So the engine we have here today simply sucks... Built by Honda racing's second rate engineers.

We wont see the impacts of the real Honda Gurus maybe by early to mid 2026.

[Honda Porsche fan]

Posted on another thread...

This is a completely new relationship for both Aston Martin and Honda. It will take some time.

Honda's transition over to Aston Martin and the developing of the new engine has not been fast enough, the integration between the two teams (AM, Honda) has not been smooth obviously and I think that is due to Honda wanting to go out with a bang with Red Bull and win the title and develop the 2025 engine all the way to the end for Max.

During 2024 and 2025 how much was Honda Japan focused on the development of the 2026 engine and integrating it into the Aston Martin chassis? This was going to take time between both Honda and Aston Martin...

Honda was focused on winning the driver's title with Max and Red Bull as they stated that 2025 they wanted to go all in to win the title with their last year at Red Bull. They weren't putting 100% attention and focus to their 2026 engine the way Mercedes and Ferrari were. Mercedes and Ferrari had more time to develop their 2026 car as McLaren and Red Bull fought it out to the end to the last race.

This happens to teams in F1 when they are trying to win the title, they often times put so much focus on developing their car to the final race they neglect next year's car. Flavio Briatore said this is what happened to Renault Benetton after the 2006 season when they won the title, the car was horrible for 2007 and they were towards the back of the grid.

During 2025, Aston Martin was behind the scenes developing their 2026 chassis but, had no Honda engine and no gearbox specifically for Honda. Also, the massive reshuffle/restructuring of Honda F1 engineers who were moved on to other parts of the company and a new younger generation of Honda engineers are there.

Whether people like it or not, Honda does not operate like Mercedes and Ferrari do. Honda needs better long term strategic planning and development.

After the summer break, there might be a possibility and chance Aston Martin/Honda will be up there fighting around 5th or 6th position ?

Made up stories!!

The Honda engine stopped development in 2023. It was minor tweaks after that. They didn't need Sakura to do that. Notice Honda stopped releasing engine update photos after that point. The Honda gurus were simply disbanded to other departments in Honda. Their F1 engine department simply didn't exist anymore until they hurridely accepted to come back into the sport for 2026 under the simpler engine rule set. Problem was they couldn't get all the gurus to come back and work their magic in such a short notice of time. So the engine we have here today simply sucks... Built by Honda racing's second rate engineers.

We wont see the impacts of the real Honda Gurus maybe by early to mid 2026.

All engine manufacturers stopped full development after the 2021 season.

I agree, that Honda's way of operating their F1 program and how they have massive reshuffling and turnover among their engineers is not good for continuity and it's not fair to the customer teams who are supplied Honda engines, they get very strong engines for 5 to 6 seasons and then a pretty big decline in performance. Honda in F1 has some very big drastic cycles and phases that I personally wish Honda would not do and go through. I wish Honda had more long term strategic planning on development and less drastic transition phases and more continuity like Mercedes and Ferrari.

I have confidence and faith in both Aston Martin and Honda that this can work, there just needs to be patience and time.

[CHT]

Many people must be wondering why AMR picked Honda instead of sticking with Merc?
Was Lawrence Stroll trying to short cut the process of rising to the top by acquiring RBR winning formula of Honda + Newey?

To win F1, the 3 most important components are Engine Chassis and Driver, and currently AMR is as good as having no engine.
So how is AMR going to develop a new chassis without a working engine? As I read, a new engine wont happen till mid season at best.
So instead of throwing darts in the dark, one possible solution is perhaps for Honda and AMR copy what other teams are doing
and hope Honda can deliver an engine similar to Merc or Ferrari.

Even if it work, this solution is unlikely to deliver the full potential AMR was hoping from Newey.
LS dream of turning AMR into winning team under this new regulation unlikely to materialised
And the lack of stability and constant change is key personnel is going to make situation worst.

Adrian Newey once said that RB was special because their owner took a long term approach in F1 while
some other billionaire in F1 are being too impatient and expect instant result. I reckon situation in AMR
must be like the latter, and the war in Middle East which affected Aramco is not helping either.

[diffuser]

Posted on another thread...

This is a completely new relationship for both Aston Martin and Honda. It will take some time.

Honda's transition over to Aston Martin and the developing of the new engine has not been fast enough, the integration between the two teams (AM, Honda) has not been smooth obviously and I think that is due to Honda wanting to go out with a bang with Red Bull and win the title and develop the 2025 engine all the way to the end for Max.

During 2024 and 2025 how much was Honda Japan focused on the development of the 2026 engine and integrating it into the Aston Martin chassis? This was going to take time between both Honda and Aston Martin...

Honda was focused on winning the driver's title with Max and Red Bull as they stated that 2025 they wanted to go all in to win the title with their last year at Red Bull. They weren't putting 100% attention and focus to their 2026 engine the way Mercedes and Ferrari were. Mercedes and Ferrari had more time to develop their 2026 car as McLaren and Red Bull fought it out to the end to the last race.

This happens to teams in F1 when they are trying to win the title, they often times put so much focus on developing their car to the final race they neglect next year's car. Flavio Briatore said this is what happened to Renault Benetton after the 2006 season when they won the title, the car was horrible for 2007 and they were towards the back of the grid.

During 2025, Aston Martin was behind the scenes developing their 2026 chassis but, had no Honda engine and no gearbox specifically for Honda. Also, the massive reshuffle/restructuring of Honda F1 engineers who were moved on to other parts of the company and a new younger generation of Honda engineers are there.

Whether people like it or not, Honda does not operate like Mercedes and Ferrari do. Honda needs better long term strategic planning and development.

After the summer break, there might be a possibility and chance Aston Martin/Honda will be up there fighting around 5th or 6th position ?

Made up stories!!

The Honda engine stopped development in 2023. It was minor tweaks after that. They didn't need Sakura to do that. Notice Honda stopped releasing engine update photos after that point. The Honda gurus were simply disbanded to other departments in Honda. Their F1 engine department simply didn't exist anymore until they hurridely accepted to come back into the sport for 2026 under the simpler engine rule set. Problem was they couldn't get all the gurus to come back and work their magic in such a short notice of time. So the engine we have here today simply sucks... Built by Honda racing's second rate engineers.

We wont see the impacts of the real Honda Gurus maybe by early to mid 2026.

1. Initial commitment (late 2022)
In December 2022, Honda (through Honda Racing Corporation) officially registered with the FIA as a power unit manufacturer for the new 2026 regulations.
This is essentially when they decided internally to come back.
2. Public announcement (May 2023)
On May 23, 2023, Honda formally announced its full return to F1 starting in 2026, partnering with Aston Martin as a works engine supplier.

I see "Honda Porsche fan" trying to explain this away. I'm in the other court. I've stopped wasting my time on what happened. If the plan was to hit the ground running this year, AM F1 GP screwed up. They should have switched to Honda, making there own gearbox and rear suspension the very next year after signing with Honda. They should have known Honda would have needed it for use as a mule. Take the time to develop the relationship. To quote the clash it's up Cowell to decide ..."Should I stay or should I go. If I go, there will be trouble And if I stay, it will be double. So come on and let me know"



It's either in our out with Honda for me. See what Cowell says. You can't afford to wait 3 years to have a competitive PU. Maybe that says they're in with Honda. But I would keep a close eye on them.

[zoroastar]

i hope the wheatley signing will keep alonso around for a couple of more years. if in fact hes leaving audi, i dont think they couldve made a better choice. more technical and way less baggage than horner. he was trackside manager at redbull. and team manager at audi. i think binnotto is team principle at audi. so the aston job would be an upgrade. i just wonder how long hell be sitting on the sidelines.

Alonso turns 45 soon. I don't think there are a couple more years anymore. This has to be the last year. They can't bring that car to the championship right away next year.

people have been saying that every year for 5 years now knowing that eventually theyll finally be right if they say it long enough. it all comes down to whether alonso wants to keep going or not. if hes still motivated he can still drive.

[zoroastar]

Posted on another thread...

This is a completely new relationship for both Aston Martin and Honda. It will take some time.

Honda's transition over to Aston Martin and the developing of the new engine has not been fast enough, the integration between the two teams (AM, Honda) has not been smooth obviously and I think that is due to Honda wanting to go out with a bang with Red Bull and win the title and develop the 2025 engine all the way to the end for Max.

During 2024 and 2025 how much was Honda Japan focused on the development of the 2026 engine and integrating it into the Aston Martin chassis? This was going to take time between both Honda and Aston Martin...

Honda was focused on winning the driver's title with Max and Red Bull as they stated that 2025 they wanted to go all in to win the title with their last year at Red Bull. They weren't putting 100% attention and focus to their 2026 engine the way Mercedes and Ferrari were. Mercedes and Ferrari had more time to develop their 2026 car as McLaren and Red Bull fought it out to the end to the last race.

This happens to teams in F1 when they are trying to win the title, they often times put so much focus on developing their car to the final race they neglect next year's car. Flavio Briatore said this is what happened to Renault Benetton after the 2006 season when they won the title, the car was horrible for 2007 and they were towards the back of the grid.

During 2025, Aston Martin was behind the scenes developing their 2026 chassis but, had no Honda engine and no gearbox specifically for Honda. Also, the massive reshuffle/restructuring of Honda F1 engineers who were moved on to other parts of the company and a new younger generation of Honda engineers are there.

Whether people like it or not, Honda does not operate like Mercedes and Ferrari do. Honda needs better long term strategic planning and development.

After the summer break, there might be a possibility and chance Aston Martin/Honda will be up there fighting around 5th or 6th position ?

Made up stories!!

The Honda engine stopped development in 2023. It was minor tweaks after that. They didn't need Sakura to do that. Notice Honda stopped releasing engine update photos after that point. The Honda gurus were simply disbanded to other departments in Honda. Their F1 engine department simply didn't exist anymore until they hurridely accepted to come back into the sport for 2026 under the simpler engine rule set. Problem was they couldn't get all the gurus to come back and work their magic in such a short notice of time. So the engine we have here today simply sucks... Built by Honda racing's second rate engineers.

We wont see the impacts of the real Honda Gurus maybe by early to mid 2026.

All engine manufacturers stopped full development after the 2021 season.

I agree, that Honda's way of operating their F1 program and how they have massive reshuffling and turnover among their engineers is not good for continuity and it's not fair to the customer teams who are supplied Honda engines, they get very strong engines for 5 to 6 seasons and then a pretty big decline in performance. Honda in F1 has some very big drastic cycles and phases that I personally wish Honda would not do and go through. I wish Honda had more long term strategic planning on development and less drastic transition phases and more continuity like Mercedes and Ferrari.

I'm also noticing people are either 100% pro-Aston Martin and anti-Honda or 100% pro-Honda and anti-Aston Martin.

I support both Honda and Aston Martin.

Again...

I just don't find it odd or an emergency when two teams work together for the first time and the first couple of races of their first season in their new relationship the results are not good especially since Aston Martin was not competitive with a Mercedes engine. Adrian Newey has only had maybe a year or even less than a full year to completely design a new AM car with no Honda engine or no specific gear box for Honda.

In fact, I find the situation that both Aston Martin and Honda are in right now unsurprising during this transition phase.

There is a possibility after the summer break there will be some movement up the grid and I wouldn't be surprised if they start getting some 6th or 7th place results during races this season.

I have confidence and faith in both Aston Martin and Honda that this can work, there just needs to be patience and time.

hondas just become a big auto maker with watered down racing roots. their days of being a true racing inspired company has left. they are too worried about the volatile markets to focus on being a serious threat to teams like mercedes or porsche or audi. hell even toyota i think. its not that they cant, its that they dont. i dont think their shareholders even care that much. look at their motogp teams of the last few years. a sport they dominated not long ago, and they are nowhere. but thats their prerogative. its when other teams/companies/drivers have to suffer because they are half assing it. luckily for marc marquez he figured it out before his time ran out in the sport.

the fact that you arent surprised by the condition aston/honda are in just sounds like youve grown accustomed to honda not being as good as merc or ferrari or audi, or as good as they used to be.

[Honda Porsche fan]

Posted on another thread...

This is a completely new relationship for both Aston Martin and Honda. It will take some time.

Honda's transition over to Aston Martin and the developing of the new engine has not been fast enough, the integration between the two teams (AM, Honda) has not been smooth obviously and I think that is due to Honda wanting to go out with a bang with Red Bull and win the title and develop the 2025 engine all the way to the end for Max.

During 2024 and 2025 how much was Honda Japan focused on the development of the 2026 engine and integrating it into the Aston Martin chassis? This was going to take time between both Honda and Aston Martin...

Honda was focused on winning the driver's title with Max and Red Bull as they stated that 2025 they wanted to go all in to win the title with their last year at Red Bull. They weren't putting 100% attention and focus to their 2026 engine the way Mercedes and Ferrari were. Mercedes and Ferrari had more time to develop their 2026 car as McLaren and Red Bull fought it out to the end to the last race.

This happens to teams in F1 when they are trying to win the title, they often times put so much focus on developing their car to the final race they neglect next year's car. Flavio Briatore said this is what happened to Renault Benetton after the 2006 season when they won the title, the car was horrible for 2007 and they were towards the back of the grid.

During 2025, Aston Martin was behind the scenes developing their 2026 chassis but, had no Honda engine and no gearbox specifically for Honda. Also, the massive reshuffle/restructuring of Honda F1 engineers who were moved on to other parts of the company and a new younger generation of Honda engineers are there.

Whether people like it or not, Honda does not operate like Mercedes and Ferrari do. Honda needs better long term strategic planning and development.

After the summer break, there might be a possibility and chance Aston Martin/Honda will be up there fighting around 5th or 6th position ?

Made up stories!!

The Honda engine stopped development in 2023. It was minor tweaks after that. They didn't need Sakura to do that. Notice Honda stopped releasing engine update photos after that point. The Honda gurus were simply disbanded to other departments in Honda. Their F1 engine department simply didn't exist anymore until they hurridely accepted to come back into the sport for 2026 under the simpler engine rule set. Problem was they couldn't get all the gurus to come back and work their magic in such a short notice of time. So the engine we have here today simply sucks... Built by Honda racing's second rate engineers.

We wont see the impacts of the real Honda Gurus maybe by early to mid 2026.

1. Initial commitment (late 2022)
In December 2022, Honda (through Honda Racing Corporation) officially registered with the FIA as a power unit manufacturer for the new 2026 regulations.
This is essentially when they decided internally to come back.
2. Public announcement (May 2023)
On May 23, 2023, Honda formally announced its full return to F1 starting in 2026, partnering with Aston Martin as a works engine supplier.

I see "Honda Porsche fan" trying to explain this away. I'm in the other court. I've stopped wasting my time on what happened. If the plan was to hit the ground running this year, AM F1 GP screwed up. They should have switched to Honda, making there own gearbox and rear suspension the very next year after signing with Honda. They should have known Honda would have needed it for use as a mule. Take the time to develop the relationship. To quote the clash it's up Cowell to decide ..."Should I stay or should I go. If I go, there will be trouble And if I stay, it will be double. So come on and let me know"



It's either in our out with Honda for me. See what Cowell says. You can't afford to wait 3 years to have a competitive PU. Maybe that says they're in with Honda. But I would keep a close eye on them.

I'm a Honda fan, I back the teams that Honda supplies engines to. I no longer follow Red Bull, I'm all on board with Aston Martin. I want Aston Martin and Honda to win.

I like what Lawrence Stroll is doing, signing top people. And top people are willing to move over to Aston Martin so quickly. It seems they want to be part of something that can be special.

To me, what is happening at Aston Martin is sort of like how Red Bull was built early on.

Honda is Honda. When they came back in 2015 it was so bad people thought they were going to leave but, they pulled through and engineered one of the most dominant engines in the history of F1.

I see this Aston Martin Honda partnership winning lots of championships.

Not to start a flame war but, they should try to sign Max Verstappen for 2027.

[Honda Porsche fan]

Made up stories!!

The Honda engine stopped development in 2023. It was minor tweaks after that. They didn't need Sakura to do that. Notice Honda stopped releasing engine update photos after that point. The Honda gurus were simply disbanded to other departments in Honda. Their F1 engine department simply didn't exist anymore until they hurridely accepted to come back into the sport for 2026 under the simpler engine rule set. Problem was they couldn't get all the gurus to come back and work their magic in such a short notice of time. So the engine we have here today simply sucks... Built by Honda racing's second rate engineers.

We wont see the impacts of the real Honda Gurus maybe by early to mid 2026.

All engine manufacturers stopped full development after the 2021 season.

I agree, that Honda's way of operating their F1 program and how they have massive reshuffling and turnover among their engineers is not good for continuity and it's not fair to the customer teams who are supplied Honda engines, they get very strong engines for 5 to 6 seasons and then a pretty big decline in performance. Honda in F1 has some very big drastic cycles and phases that I personally wish Honda would not do and go through. I wish Honda had more long term strategic planning on development and less drastic transition phases and more continuity like Mercedes and Ferrari.

I'm also noticing people are either 100% pro-Aston Martin and anti-Honda or 100% pro-Honda and anti-Aston Martin.

I support both Honda and Aston Martin.

Again...

I just don't find it odd or an emergency when two teams work together for the first time and the first couple of races of their first season in their new relationship the results are not good especially since Aston Martin was not competitive with a Mercedes engine. Adrian Newey has only had maybe a year or even less than a full year to completely design a new AM car with no Honda engine or no specific gear box for Honda.

In fact, I find the situation that both Aston Martin and Honda are in right now unsurprising during this transition phase.

There is a possibility after the summer break there will be some movement up the grid and I wouldn't be surprised if they start getting some 6th or 7th place results during races this season.

I have confidence and faith in both Aston Martin and Honda that this can work, there just needs to be patience and time.

hondas just become a big auto maker with watered down racing roots. their days of being a true racing inspired company has left. they are too worried about the volatile markets to focus on being a serious threat to teams like mercedes or porsche or audi. hell even toyota i think. its not that they cant, its that they dont. i dont think their shareholders even care that much. look at their motogp teams of the last few years. a sport they dominated not long ago, and they are nowhere. but thats their prerogative. its when other teams/companies/drivers have to suffer because they are half assing it. luckily for marc marquez he figured it out before his time ran out in the sport.

the fact that you arent surprised by the condition aston/honda are in just sounds like youve grown accustomed to honda not being as good as merc or ferrari or audi, or as good as they used to be.

It's only been two races in the 2026 season.

[venkyhere]

I just don't find it odd or an emergency when two teams work together for the first time and the first couple of races of their first season in their new relationship the results are not good especially since Aston Martin was not competitive with a Mercedes engine. Adrian Newey has only had maybe a year or even less than a full year to completely design a new AM car with no Honda engine or no specific gear box for Honda.

In fact, I find the situation that both Aston Martin and Honda are in right now unsurprising during this transition phase.

There is a possibility after the summer break there will be some movement up the grid and I wouldn't be surprised if they start getting some 6th or 7th place results during races this season.

I have confidence and faith in both Aston Martin and Honda that this can work, there just needs to be patience and time.

Many of us who have been watching F1 for decades, find it odd, not because of bad results when an engine team (or PU team, rather) and a chassis team come together for the first time, but because of 'no-results'. It's the nature of the failure (lack of communication between the teams leading to engg disaster) rather than some performance numbers that's of concern. I have no doubts on the technical capabilities of both teams, but have serious doubts about their co-working capabilities. To learn that AMR DIDN'T KNOW which engineers in Honda were working on their PU, means the status of this team is no better than a customer team like Alpine. Unlike Alpine, whose engine supplier is indeed part of a factory F1 team, Honda have no existence in F1, outside the partnership with AMR. Which means, they have no way to 'find out mistakes' unless they too ask questions and seek answers from the chassis team.



And guys, can we PLEASE STOP the back and forth about "history of Honda in F1" ? It's been going in circles, reading the exact same stuff repeatedly, every 3 pages, about what they were doing b/w 2015-2017, 2019-2021, 2022-2025.. feels like how bovines regurgitate food back from the stomach, into the mouth, chew again and send it back to the stomach.

[Honda Porsche fan]

I just don't find it odd or an emergency when two teams work together for the first time and the first couple of races of their first season in their new relationship the results are not good especially since Aston Martin was not competitive with a Mercedes engine. Adrian Newey has only had maybe a year or even less than a full year to completely design a new AM car with no Honda engine or no specific gear box for Honda.

In fact, I find the situation that both Aston Martin and Honda are in right now unsurprising during this transition phase.

There is a possibility after the summer break there will be some movement up the grid and I wouldn't be surprised if they start getting some 6th or 7th place results during races this season.

I have confidence and faith in both Aston Martin and Honda that this can work, there just needs to be patience and time.

Many of us who have been watching F1 for decades, find it odd, not because of bad results when an engine team (or PU team, rather) and a chassis team come together for the first time, but because of 'no-results'. It's the nature of the failure (lack of communication between the teams leading to engg disaster) rather than some performance numbers that's of concern. I have no doubts on the technical capabilities of both teams, but have serious doubts about their co-working capabilities. To learn that AMR DIDN'T KNOW which engineers in Honda were working on their PU, means the status of this team is no better than a customer team like Alpine. Unlike Alpine, whose engine supplier is indeed part of a factory F1 team, Honda have no existence in F1, outside the partnership with AMR. Which means, they have no way to 'find out mistakes' unless they too ask questions and seek answers from the chassis team.



And guys, can we PLEASE STOP the back and forth about "history of Honda in F1" ? It's been going in circles, reading the exact same stuff repeatedly, every 3 pages, about what they were doing b/w 2015-2017, 2019-2021, 2022-2025.. feels like how bovines regurgitate food back from the stomach, into the mouth, chew again and send it back to the stomach.

Honda had a great engine from 2019 to 2025. You can't stay on top on top forever. It's only been 2 races into the 2026 season. Got to give it some time.

There is some communication issues but, I think that's getting worked out with Andy Cowell in Japan working on the new B-spec engine, which is being prepared for the sixth or seventh race (Miami or Canada). I bet by the Singapore GP the car will be highly modified compared to now and will be fighting with McLaren, Red Bull and Alpine anywhere in the top 5, 6 or 7th place.

Alonso was able to get up to 10th spot quickly in China. The car has great starts and launches well, they just need to reduce the vibrations and slowly increase power.

McLaren is a customer of Mercedes and they won the championship in 2025 and now they're struggling with Mercedes. Technical problems happen and you move down the pecking order and fight your way back up.

[diffuser]

F1unchained said the AMR26 has a massive upgrade for Japan. This is the car they were supposed to start the season with. Along with the attempted fix for the vibrations.

[V10FURY]

F1unchained said the AMR26 has a massive upgrade for Japan. This is the car they were supposed to start the season with. Along with the attempted fix for the vibrations.

Not sure why they would bother with a large upgrade at Japan and not just wait until Miami to ensure as much work as possible was done to fix the current vibrations / power unit. The upgrade data is meaningless if they can’t even run the car for more than 10 laps at 75% speed. They should have run the Aston Martin car designed last year , before Newey arrived , for the first half of this season to let him have the extra time needed. Then introduce his car by round 9 as the big season upgrade to then tweak it further for a full run at the podiums in 2027. I think if they had done this plan then they would have figured out much sooner that the engine was a turd that needed major attention. They might be at Williams level already this season and actually finishing races.

If Aston has any fixed in place by the Japanese GP that make any significant difference to their current woes I will be pleasantly surprised. I think Miami is a more realistic timeline to get them finishing a full race distance with both cars , without them shaking apart. Will they be competitive in Miami? Probably only with Cadillac I think, and whichever car at Williams or the other teams has issues.

This year is a complete debacle so the team should solely focus on 2027 with Honda to make sure this is not a 3-4 year show for the team. If the engine is fundamentally flawed in design/ execution/harmonics/power/harvesting/and deployment it doesn’t matter what the chassis and aero team can come up with this season. Save the duckets for 2027 and make sure Honda are spending every single Yen on getting this engine package reliable, and powerful for 2027. Otherwise Jonathan Wheatleys first order of business as the new TP might be a call to his old boss at Audi to sign up for their engine packages for 2027. Probably a good idea if they can’t get on top of these issues at Honda by mid season, as Stroll SR is not going to wait years to turn this around.