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via PlanetF1Lawrence Stroll acknowledges Aston Martin's engine issuesLawrence Stroll has stated that Aston Martin is currently missing two seconds in engine performance, which is impacting their competitiveness. He emphasised the team's commitment to winning but acknowledged the challenges they face in achieving that goal.
via CrashLance Stroll highlights two-second deficit with HondaLance Stroll has expressed concern over Aston Martin's performance, stating the team is currently missing two seconds in engine performance compared to competitors. This follows Honda's recent engine upgrade, which Stroll described as insufficient to close the gap.Honda keeps developing 2026 engine after Spec 2Oct.1 (GMM) Honda says development of its troubled 2026 power unit is continuing beyond the recently introduced Spec 2 package, with further gains now being sought through drivability and energy management. The Japanese manufacturer introduced a major engine upgrade at Zandvoort, followed only a few races later by another step centred on the turbocharger. Speaking…
via Motorsport.comHonda introduces second F1 upgrade for Aston MartinHonda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe confirmed that the second Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities upgrade was introduced for Aston Martin during the Spanish Grand Prix. This upgrade is designed for drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
via thejudge13.comAston Martin quietly explores Mercedes engine return as Honda concerns growAston Martin is reportedly considering a return to Mercedes engines as team owner Lawrence Stroll has made discreet inquiries about the possibility. This comes amid a challenging 2026 season where Aston Martin has struggled with its Honda-powered package, currently sitting tenth in the constructors' championship with only three points.
Former driver Christian Danner highlighted the performance issues with Honda, particularly in integrating the combustion engine with the electrical components under the new regulations. While Aston Martin remains committed to Honda for now, the potential design provisions for a Mercedes power unit in their next car suggest serious consideration of alternatives as concerns about their current partnership grow.
via f1oversteer.comHonda horsepower figures show the 2027 season is already a bust for Fernando Alonso at Aston MartinFernando Alonso has committed to Aston Martin for the 2027 season, but he remains critical of the Honda engine's performance. The team is reportedly 70 horsepower behind competitors like Mercedes, which has raised concerns about their competitiveness under the new Formula 1 regulations.
Despite the disappointing start to the season, Aston Martin intends to stick with Honda and evolve their current power unit. Alonso's worries about the engine's performance suggest that the team may struggle to compete at the front of the grid until significant improvements are made.
via f1oversteer.comGuenther Steiner thinks Lawrence Stroll sees a Mercedes engine when he ‘wakes up at night’Guenther Steiner has expressed confusion over Lawrence Stroll and Fernando Alonso's lack of criticism towards Honda's underperformance, particularly after Aston Martin's fifth double DNF this season at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Alonso acknowledged engine issues affecting their speed and called for further investigation, while reports indicate that Honda is significantly underpowered compared to competitors.
Steiner highlighted the irony of Stroll's loyalty to Honda, given the potential benefits of a Mercedes engine, which he believes could have kept Aston Martin competitive. Despite Alonso's commitment to give Honda another chance, the ongoing engine issues are likely to remain a significant challenge for the team moving forward.
via PlanetF1Honda clarifies Fernando Alonso's Baku engine issueHonda has provided an update regarding the engine problem experienced by Fernando Alonso during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. While Alonso indicated an issue, Honda's data analysis suggests a different explanation for the performance concerns.
via espn.comAyrton Senna's Honda NSX expected to reach £800,000Ayrton Senna's 1991 Honda NSX is set to be auctioned in London at the end of October. The car is estimated to fetch around £800,000.
via RacingNews365Honda finds no issues with Alonso's F1 engineHonda's chief engineer Shintaro Orihara stated that their analysis revealed no problems with Fernando Alonso's power unit, despite Alonso's claims of engine issues leading to his retirement during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The situation has left both Alonso and Honda unable to explain the anomalous performance of the engine.
via gpfans.comFernando Alonso retires from Azerbaijan Grand PrixFernando Alonso decided to retire from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, marking another challenging race for Aston Martin. Despite Honda's insistence that there was no issue with Alonso's car, he did not complete the race.
via RacingNews365Aston Martin faces double retirement in AzerbaijanAston Martin experienced a challenging weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll forced to retire from the race. Alonso reportedly made the decision to retire himself, marking another difficult chapter in the team's season.
via Motorsport.comFernando Alonso's only goal in no-hope Baku: Save parts for F1's triple-headerFernando Alonso is participating in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with Aston Martin, where he aims to finish the race without errors. Given the team's struggles with Honda's engine performance, Alonso is prioritising the preservation of car parts for the upcoming triple-header of races in Malaysia and Singapore.
Despite qualifying significantly behind the leaders, Alonso noted improvements in the car's setup and expressed optimism about future races. He and teammate Lance Stroll have taken engine penalties, which has affected their grid positions. Alonso is focused on making the most of the less competitive weekends to prepare for more promising circuits.
via f1oversteer.comGuenther Steiner disagrees with Toto Wolff about the real ‘problem’ with Honda’s ‘air pump’ engineGuenther Steiner has publicly disagreed with Toto Wolff regarding the issues facing Aston Martin, attributing their struggles to Honda's engine performance rather than the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO). Steiner described Honda's engine as akin to an 'air pump', suggesting that even with ADUO, Aston Martin would not see improvements due to fundamental flaws in the engine design.
The debate highlights the ongoing challenges Aston Martin faces in the 2026 Formula 1 season, as they remain unable to close the gap to midfield competitors. Wolff and others have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of ADUO, but Steiner insists that the core problem lies with Honda's inability to adapt to new regulations, which has left Aston Martin lagging behind.
via Formula1.comAlonso and Stroll face grid penalties at Azerbaijan GPFernando Alonso and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin will start from the back of the grid at the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix due to engine penalties. The penalties were imposed after both drivers exceeded their power unit allocations by fitting new components.
via f1oversteer.comRalf Schumacher urges Aston Martin not to waste time and take action over Honda ‘embarrassment’Ralf Schumacher has called on Aston Martin to take decisive action regarding their Honda engine, which he describes as an 'embarrassment' following their struggles for consistent power. Despite debuting a new Honda engine at the Dutch Grand Prix, the team has not seen the expected improvements, leading to speculation about a potential switch to Mercedes or Red Bull engines.
During a podcast, Schumacher expressed his concerns about Honda's performance and suggested that Aston Martin should explore other engine suppliers without delay. He believes that while Audi could be a contender, Mercedes would be a safer bet for the team. Schumacher emphasised the need for Aston Martin to eliminate sources of error, particularly in their gearbox, to compete effectively in Formula 1.
via f1oversteer.comF1 teams must not help Honda after seeing them dominate the sport with Max VerstappenHonda is facing significant challenges in the 2026 Formula 1 season, particularly with their partnership with Aston Martin, which has led to discussions about potential replacements for their underperforming engine. Rival teams have previously provided financial assistance to Honda, fearing their exit from the sport, but there is now caution about offering too much support due to Honda's history of dominance with Max Verstappen from 2021 to 2024.
As the F1 landscape prepares for a shift in engine regulations favouring internal combustion engines starting in 2027, there are concerns that if Honda receives additional backing, they could quickly regain their competitive edge. This has led to a divided opinion among teams, with some advocating for caution to prevent Honda from leveraging any support to become a dominant force once again.
via f1oversteer.com‘Angry’ Fernando Alonso has been taunting Honda staff about joining ‘Toyota’ insteadFernando Alonso has been openly critical of Honda's performance this season, recalling his successful stint with Toyota in the World Endurance Championship. He has reportedly taunted Honda staff by suggesting that to win, he would need to race with Toyota, highlighting the intense rivalry between the two manufacturers.
Alonso's current season with Aston Martin has been disappointing, with only three points scored, marking his worst performance since his rookie year in 2001. Despite being the lead driver in qualifying, he has struggled to advance past Q2. Alonso's future in Formula 1 remains uncertain, as he weighs the impact of upcoming regulations against Honda's competitiveness.
via f1oversteer.comHonda manager says Yuki Tsunoda must be ‘really disappointed’ with Racing Bulls performance in SpainYuki Tsunoda's performance at the Spanish Grand Prix was disappointing, as he finished in 14th place, his worst result while substituting for Racing Bulls. The driver faced significant challenges after sustaining damage from a collision with Carlos Sainz on the first lap, which hindered his pace throughout the race. Team boss Alan Permane noted that Tsunoda was losing time per lap due to the damage, resulting in a finish nearly 32 seconds behind his teammate Arvid Lindblad, who secured a ninth-place finish.
Honda's young driver manager, Shinji Nakano, expressed that Tsunoda should feel disappointed with his lack of one-lap pace, which affected his qualifying position. Despite the difficulties, Tsunoda had previously shown competitive potential, scoring a point at Monza. As Racing Bulls continue to compete for fifth place in the constructors' standings, there are reports of Tsunoda seeking a seat with Cadillac for the upcoming season.
via PlanetF1Honda raises concerns over FIA engine interventionHonda has expressed concerns following comments from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem regarding potential further assistance for Formula 1 engines. Toto Wolff of Mercedes has supported the idea of FIA intervention, stating that teams require additional help.Page 1 of 5