Since the start of the 2026 season, Honda has been under intense scrutiny due to issues with its power unit, but Aston Martin’s challenges also stem from the AMR26 itself. According to the drivers, the car lacks sufficient aerodynamic downforce and the overall balance is off.
It hasn’t been an easy period for Koji Watanabe. The president of HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) has spent the past two months fielding criticism over the lack of competitiveness and reliability of the power unit powering the Aston Martin. The British team had aimed for high-profile results in 2026. Some initial teething problems were expected, but it became clear even during pre-season testing that issues with the Honda project would significantly limit the team’s early-season ambitions.
During the Melbourne weekend, Adrian Newey publicly criticized Honda; later, some statements were clarified as misunderstandings, but the issues remain. Speaking today at Suzuka, Watanabe downplayed what had appeared to be tensions between the parties. “The relationship between Aston Martin and Honda is very good. The Honda development team, led by Tetsushi Kakuda, and the Aston Martin engineers, represented by Enrico Cardile, work closely together. I also have an excellent relationship with Mr. Stroll, as well as with Adrian Newey, so I have no concerns on that front.”
Watanabe then addressed the current situation with the power unit. “As you know, we are struggling at the moment for several reasons. First, the new regulations have proven to be quite challenging for us. Second, we stopped Formula 1 activities at the end of 2021 and only announced our return in 2023, so there was a period where our operations were quite limited. It took time to rebuild the organization and restart development, which caused a delay in our project compared to the competition.”
Honda’s agenda: vibrations, reliability, and performance
“At our factory in Japan,” Watanabe continued, “Aston Martin engineers work intensively with Honda staff. I believe the most important thing is to continue progressing step by step.” The priority, clearly highlighted during Bahrain testing, is vibrations, which have affected car behavior and placed a strain on battery packs. On the test bench, vibration levels were acceptable, but once the power unit was integrated into the chassis, they became much more severe.
“We have focused on solving this problem,” Watanabe confirmed, “especially around the battery area. But to find a definitive solution, it’s not enough to intervene only on the power unit—we are working closely with Aston Martin to find solutions on the chassis side as well. Aston Martin and Honda are not just constructor and engine supplier; they are two entities working together as a single team.”
“Here at Suzuka, we have also improved energy management to boost performance,” Watanabe concluded, “but with the current regulations, improving outright performance is not simple. That is why, for now, we are focusing on reliability and, within the rules, we will see what is possible in terms of performance.”
Are the problems really only due to the power unit?
At the end of the first day on track at Suzuka, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were only 19th and 21st, with Sergio Perez’s Cadillac in between. Behind them was only Arvid Lindblad, who did not set a lap. The Aston Martin cars remained around three and a half seconds off the top pace, raising doubts that the issues are purely power-unit related.
It’s true that a motor producing visible vibrations, evident even in onboard footage of Alonso and Stroll, is certainly unhelpful, as is the power deficit. But Stroll, speaking at the end of a tough day, also highlighted other issues. “Certain sections of this track accentuate our weaknesses; our car doesn’t handle high-speed sections well. I believe it’s a combination of balance and downforce.”
There is no doubt about the primary priority in terms of problems, but in an overall problematic picture, the car’s performance has also taken a backseat. This remains a question mark for now. As expected along the Sakura-Silverstone development axis, with progressive improvements to the power unit—Honda placing significant focus on the ADUO system—the true potential of the AMR26 will emerge, a car that so far remains both highly interesting and enigmatic.
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