Vibrations, retirements and no more excuses: Honda arrives in Japan in crisis
For Honda, technical partner of Aston Martin, the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season has turned into a test of endurance rather than a debut. After the double retirement in Australia, the Chinese Grand Prix also became another major warning sign: both cars out of the race, clear reliability issues, and the Alonso case that triggered serious concern.
Vibrations, pain and retirement: the Alonso case shakes Honda
In Shanghai, the situation escalated dramatically. Fernando Alonso reported severe vibrations to the point of losing feeling in his hands and feet, and was ultimately forced to retire. An episode that highlighted not only a technical issue, but also a potential safety concern.
Shintaro Orihara, Honda F1 general manager and chief engineer, acknowledged that progress has been made, but not enough to speak of a real breakthrough.
“We cannot be satisfied with the double retirement we recorded today at the Chinese Grand Prix. However, looking at the positive side, it is encouraging that we were able to complete more mileage compared to Melbourne. Reliability improved over the sprint weekend, but it is still not sufficient to complete a full race distance.
The system-level vibrations have improved, but there are still issues in terms of driver comfort. This is an important area we need to work on ahead of the next Japanese Grand Prix.”
The Stroll case and a regulation that leaves no room for error
As if that were not enough, Honda has yet to identify the causes behind Lance Stroll’s retirement. The investigation is ongoing in collaboration with the HRC headquarters in Sakura and the Aston Martin team.
“We are currently investigating the causes of Lance’s retirement. We will continue to work together with the HRC base in Sakura and Aston Martin to understand what happened on lap nine.”
Orihara then addressed the most delicate topic: the 2026 regulations, which are proving challenging for everyone, but cannot be used as an excuse.
“The 2026 regulations are far from simple. The number of retirements and DNS today clearly demonstrates that. However, this cannot be an excuse for our reliability or performance. There is still a lot of work to do. For us, right now, this is the absolute priority.”
For Honda, this start to the season has been a true obstacle course. Reliability is lacking, vibrations remain a serious issue, and consecutive retirements have shaken the team’s confidence. The next round, the Japanese Grand Prix, will not be just another race: it will be a crucial test, in front of the home crowd, to prove that solutions are already within reach.
Honda has no more margin for error. And it knows it very well.
The ability to balance peak electrical deployment with mechanical stability will define who leads this new era. Honda’s current struggle shows that in Formula 1, even the most successful manufacturers can be humbled by a radical shift in the rulebook.
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