Honda will unveil its next power‑unit iteration for Aston Martin’s AMR‑26 in the post‑summer break races, the team’s general manager Shintaro Orihara confirmed.
Orihara detailed that the upgrade will arrive after the Dutch Grand Prix, with only two races remaining before the new unit hits the track. He added that analysing the current engine’s energy deployment will shape future strategies, citing Monza’s long straights as a key testing ground.
Until then, the AMR‑26 continues to lag behind the field, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll qualifying on the back row at both Silverstone events. Their lap times trail the lone Cadillac by over a second to the front of Q2, underscoring the vehicle’s mid‑season challenges.
Energy efficiency at circuits with long straights is a priority. Orihara warned that Spa’s limited harvesting opportunities—combined with unpredictable weather—demand precise MGU‑K deployment and could stress the power unit’s durability.
Resource allocation will tilt toward the 2027 model, with budget caps and aerodynamic testing constraints dampening hopes of immediate midfield progress this year.
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