Aston Martin: Honda to use two development tokens this summer, confidence grows over Alonso’s future
The Austrian Grand Prix weekend has begun with several important updates from Aston Martin, and not all of them concern on-track performance. During Thursday’s media sessions at the Red Bull Ring, team principal Mike Krack and Honda representative Shitaro Orihara spoke to journalists, including GP-News.net, addressing two of the hottest topics in the Formula 1 paddock: the evolution of Honda’s ADUO power unit project and Fernando Alonso’s future amid growing transfer speculation.
Power unit update: Honda to spend two ADUO development tokens this summer
On the technical front, attention is firmly focused on Aston Martin’s future partnership with Honda under Formula 1’s new regulations. Orihara provided an update on the Japanese manufacturer’s ADUO development programme, confirming that Honda will invest two development tokens in a significant power unit upgrade package scheduled for this summer.
“Yes, we will use two development tokens for the power unit upgrade package planned for this summer. It is a targeted step forward within the ADUO project, but we prefer to stay grounded and avoid creating unrealistic expectations until we see the results on track.”
This will not simply be a collection of minor refinements but a meaningful step forward in Honda’s development programme. Even so, the Japanese manufacturer is choosing to remain cautious rather than generating excessive optimism before the new specification is tested under race conditions.
Asked about the exact timing of the upgrade, Orihara joked about both the weather and the European calendar.
“It’s difficult to say whether it will arrive before or after the summer factory shutdown… after all, it’s not easy to define when summer actually is if you look at the weather in the United Kingdom compared to Spain!”
Krack: chassis and power unit development will remain independent
Beyond the light-hearted comments about the timing, Mike Krack made it clear that Aston Martin has no intention of tying chassis upgrades to the arrival of Honda’s revised power unit. According to the team principal, both development programmes will continue independently of one another.
“We don’t necessarily have to link the introduction of aerodynamic or structural upgrade packages to the debut of the new Honda engine. The two development programmes are completely independent. If we have new chassis components ready, we’ll bring them to the track as soon as they’re approved, without waiting for the power unit schedule. That gives us maximum strategic flexibility as we work to regain competitiveness.”
In recent weeks, speculation had suggested that Aston Martin’s next major upgrade package would not arrive until after the summer break, a scenario that had also been hinted at by Fernando Alonso himself. However, it cannot be ruled out that a substantial package could instead debut at Spa-Francorchamps, the first of the two race weekends before Formula 1’s traditional summer shutdown.
Fernando Alonso’s future: decision expected after the summer break
The driver market remains one of the biggest talking points in the Formula 1 paddock, with Fernando Alonso once again at the centre of speculation. Reports linking the Spaniard with a sensational return to Alpine have grown increasingly persistent in recent weeks.
Mike Krack attempted to calm the rumours by reaffirming Alonso’s importance to Aston Martin’s long-term project.
“If we look back one or two seasons, we’ve always said very clearly that Fernando is here to stay. We’re happy with both of our drivers, and they’re fully committed to this project alongside us.”
Even so, Alonso’s future beyond the 2026 season is far from certain. The two-time Formula 1 World Champion is expected to decide whether he wants to continue racing in 2027 only after the summer break.
That uncertainty continues to keep Aston Martin waiting, although Krack praised Alonso’s professionalism throughout the situation.
“The drivers are the people most exposed to and affected by situations like this, and the way Fernando is handling it… I take my hat off to him. I sincerely hope we’ll continue working together. He shouldn’t retire—he’s still far too fast.”
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