Aston Martin will test its new Honda power unit during a filming day scheduled for tomorrow, completing the second phase of an extensive development programme that began with the AMR26B’s aerodynamic debut in Hungary. The upgraded engine is expected to be used officially at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort and, according to information obtained by AutoRacer, could deliver approximately 35hp and half a second per lap.
The first encouraging signs arrived at the Hungaroring, and the next significant step is now imminent. After introducing a major AMR26B upgrade package at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Aston Martin is preparing to advance its recovery plan with the debut of Honda’s revised Formula 1 engine.
The initial track test will be restricted to the familiar 200-kilometre filming-day allowance established by the regulations, with the car running on demonstration tyres. Nevertheless, it will represent an important step ahead of the power unit’s planned competitive debut at Zandvoort, the first round after Formula 1’s summer break. The complete timetable for that weekend is available in the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix schedule.
Aston Martin approves encouraging AMR26B upgrades
The Silverstone team divided its development programme into two stages to assess the effect of each group of upgrades more accurately. The first phase focused on the chassis and aerodynamics, making its debut in Hungary and producing encouraging signs after an extremely difficult opening part of the season.
Fernando Alonso reached Q2 for the first time in 2026 and recorded his best qualifying result of the campaign. In the race, both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll delivered a more competitive performance than in previous rounds, finally returning to the midfield battle instead of consistently occupying the final positions.
The two Aston Martin drivers finished ahead of both Haas and Williams cars, as well as one Alpine and, unsurprisingly, both Cadillacs. That outcome represented the team’s original objective for the weekend, with the Hungarian Grand Prix classification providing the first evidence of its progress.
The upgrades introduced in Hungary were approved by the team and delivered the anticipated lap-time gain of approximately 1.5 seconds compared with the previous AMR26 specification. That improvement should increase once the package has been fully optimised, while further new components are scheduled to arrive at Zandvoort and during several subsequent rounds.
There is considerable optimism within Aston Martin, including for its longer-term prospects, because the correlation between its virtual development tools and the car’s performance on the track has provided important confirmation.
“Yes, we have made a big step forward. One of many to come. So yes, I am very satisfied,” an upbeat Lawrence Stroll said on the starting grid.
At the Hungaroring, the AMR26B was, on average, the sixth-fastest car through the second and third sectors, the more technically demanding parts of the circuit. However, it was effectively the slowest in the opening sector, where power-unit performance plays a decisive role.
One rival has already assessed Aston Martin’s “new” chassis as the fifth best on the grid. That was Adrian Newey’s original target, but it appeared completely out of reach when the AMR26 first took to the track in Melbourne.
Honda engine upgrade reportedly worth half a second at Zandvoort
The next part of Aston Martin’s development plan concerns the Honda power unit, which is regarded as one of the main factors restricting the AMR26’s potential during the opening phase of the championship.
Shintaro Orihara, Honda Racing’s trackside general manager and chief engineer, confirmed the programme and explained that the filming day would be used to verify how the new specification integrates with the car.
Honda believes every small performance increase can make a meaningful difference in the midfield battle at this stage of the season, giving the introduction of the revised specification considerable strategic importance. However, the improvement prepared by the Japanese manufacturer is not expected to be marginal.
According to information obtained by AutoRacer, the upgrade should provide a performance gain of approximately half a second per lap, equivalent to around 35hp. Such an improvement could significantly strengthen Aston Martin’s position in the midfield, particularly when combined with the gains already delivered by the AMR26B’s revised chassis and aerodynamic package.
Honda still faces substantial power deficit to F1 rivals
Despite the expected improvement, Honda is not set to eliminate its entire deficit to the leading engine manufacturers. The current power shortfall is believed to be approximately 90hp, meaning the new specification should not be viewed as an immediate solution to the gap separating Honda from its rivals, including Ferrari.
Ferrari is also planning further development and is expected to introduce its second upgraded power unit specification at Monza. The competitive landscape could therefore continue to evolve even after Honda’s new engine makes its first official appearance at Zandvoort.
Power-unit vibrations reappeared during Friday practice in Budapest, reviving memories of a problem that had also affected Aston Martin at the beginning of the season. However, both Aston Martin and Honda clarified that the latest issue was different from the one encountered during the opening Grands Prix.
Fernando Alonso subsequently attempted to explain the cause of the problem, pointing to the power unit used during practice, which had reached the end of its operating cycle. Once Aston Martin installed the engine introduced at Spa-Francorchamps, the vibrations disappeared completely.
Aston Martin targets Q3 and points after the summer break
The debut of the new Honda power unit will not immediately revolutionise Aston Martin’s performance, given the substantial engine deficit separating the Japanese manufacturer from its main competitors. However, it represents the necessary final element of the first genuine upgrade to the wider Aston Martin project.
Zandvoort will provide the first concrete indication of the combined package’s potential. Aston Martin will discover whether the improved AMR26B and revised Honda engine can allow Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll to begin challenging for places in Q3 and score several points before the end of the 2026 season.
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