Aston Martin and Honda approach the third Formula 1 Grand Prix of the season at Suzuka amid a challenging start to 2026. In the first two races, the British team failed to finish either event and struggled with performance far below expectations. The main issue identified has been severe vibrations in the car. At the Chinese Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso chose to retire independently because the vibrations made it impossible to maintain a firm grip on the steering wheel.
Lance Stroll experienced a different problem, which led to a retirement unrelated to vibrations. The Aston Martin-Honda partnership is still in its early stages, and the team is working to overcome these significant technical obstacles.
Comments from Shintaro Orihara, Honda Chief Engineer
Shintaro Orihara explained the measures implemented after the Shanghai GP: “In the previous round, we encountered a problem on Stroll’s AMR26. We have brought the countermeasures here for this event.” He added that introducing changes to directly improve performance is limited by regulations, so the focus has shifted to data analysis: “We analyzed the data collected in China and improved our energy management strategy for this event.” Regarding the root causes of the technical issues, he stated: “Where exactly is the problem? I can’t go into details. But at the HRC facility in Sakura, we understood what happened.”
On the battery front, Orihara expressed optimism: “Regarding battery reliability, we believe the situation has improved between the first and second races. So, on the reliability side, we are confident we can finish the race. The issue that occurred last time involved a different component than the vibrations.”
Given that Suzuka is Honda’s home race, Orihara highlighted the emotional significance of the event: “Suzuka is very important for Honda. It’s the home race, and we must always deliver excellent results for Japanese fans. Unfortunately, we are not in that position at the moment. However, we want to show our maximum performance and demonstrate to fans the full extent of our efforts.” He concluded by thanking the supporters: “In the stands, there are banners and flags cheering us on. We sincerely appreciate the warm support for Honda.”
Comments from Mike Krack, Aston Martin Chief Trackside Officer
Mike Krack described the joint work between Aston Martin and Honda to reduce vibrations: “We work together, each with different approaches, to mitigate the impact of vibrations. This applies both on the hardware side and for the driver.” He confirmed that some solutions will be tested at Suzuka: “For this reason, we have things to test during this event. Then we will evaluate how to proceed in the future.”
Regarding the previous race, Krack clarified the immediate goal: “Indeed, last time we couldn’t finish the race. To score points in the future, we first need to complete races. That is the goal.”
He acknowledged small progress in China but set a clear target: “In China, we made a small step in that direction, but it was not enough. So the current objective is to finish the race with both cars.” Krack openly admitted the car’s limitations: “The focus on reliability is clear, but it’s also a fact that the speed is not sufficient. Even if we manage to finish, we wouldn’t have the pace to score points.”
Regarding power unit development, he explained the regulatory restrictions: “We cannot freely develop the power unit due to regulations, so we must naturally wait for the moment when updates are allowed.”
On the chassis side, work continues at full pace: “On the chassis, we are working at maximum effort to improve performance. Tomorrow we will introduce some updates. Some will be visible, others not. In any case, it is clear that improvements are needed.” Krack expressed appreciation for Suzuka’s atmosphere: “First of all, coming here to Suzuka is wonderful, just like for all of you. In Japan, there is enormous passion for F1. Even this morning, we received many cheers from the fans.”
He then spoke about the value of the Honda partnership: “Thanks to our partnership with Honda, we can say that Aston Martin’s fan base has certainly grown compared to before.” He concluded with a look to the future: “Now it’s up to us to meet their expectations. We hope to achieve this in the coming years.”
Technical updates and Suzuka objectives
The team will bring specific updates to improve reliability, focusing on both visible and invisible components. The primary goal remains to finish the race with both cars. On the power unit front, development is limited by regulations, so most efforts are concentrated on the chassis.
Despite the challenging start to the season, Aston Martin-Honda is determined to show maximum effort, particularly in front of their home fans, with the aim of building stronger results in the coming years through the collaboration between the two manufacturers.
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