Aston Martin finally delivered the chassis progress it had been chasing. Now Honda must provide the next part of the recovery.
Before Formula 1 begins its summer shutdown, the partners will return to the Hungaroring for a 200-kilometre filming day on Wednesday. Honda’s upgraded power unit will run inside the revised AMR26 for the first time.
Demo tyres and restricted mileage will make headline lap times largely meaningless. Engineers will instead examine installation, cooling, vibration, reliability and power delivery.
The test carries greater importance after Aston Martin produced a clear step forward during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. Fernando Alonso qualified 16th, while Lance Stroll and Alonso finished 13th and 14th. Neither driver scored, but both cars competed much closer to the midfield than they had during the difficult opening months of 2026.
Honda plans to introduce the engine update in competition at Zandvoort.
Hungary Showed the Chassis Can Compete
Aston Martin arrived in Budapest with 16 listed changes to the AMR26. The package reduced weight and revised several aerodynamic surfaces, giving the drivers greater confidence through the corners.
With 22 cars taking part, Q1 eliminated six drivers rather than the usual five. Alonso’s 16th place was enough to advance into Q2, marking his first appearance in the second qualifying session of the season.
That result alone did not prove Aston Martin had solved its problems. Stronger evidence came from the car’s pace through the technical sections of the circuit.
Alonso recorded the 10th fastest individual time in both Sector 2 and Sector 3 during the race. Those areas place a greater emphasis on cornering performance than outright speed. For the first time in several rounds, the AMR26 could follow midfield rivals without immediately losing contact.
Other drivers also noticed the improvement. Alex Albon suggested Aston Martin could become a serious midfield force at circuits that reward cornering grip. Franco Colapinto reached a similar conclusion after observing its pace through the turns.
The qualifying speed trap also exposed Aston Martin’s remaining straight-line weakness. Lando Norris reached 333.1 km/h, while Alonso managed 322.5 km/h and Stroll recorded 321.4 km/h.
Tow, setup and energy deployment influence those readings, but a deficit of more than 10 km/h cannot be ignored. Aston Martin had found enough cornering performance to enter the fight. Its drivers still struggled to attack or defend once the track opened onto a straight.
Honda Must Turn Technical Changes Into Usable Power
Wednesday’s test is not about chasing a spectacular lap. Honda needs to prove that its upgraded engine works cleanly inside Aston Martin’s latest chassis.
Engineers will begin by watching how the unit responds under load. They will also check whether the vibration problems that affected earlier weekends return.
Cooling represents another important area. Additional performance creates more heat, while packaging changes can alter airflow around the power unit. Honda must ensure the update does not force Aston Martin to compromise the car’s bodywork or reduce performance during longer runs.
Honda chief engineer Shintaro Orihara believes the limited session can still answer several important questions before the update reaches a race weekend.
“That is a good opportunity to check how our new engine works on the chassis,” Shintaro Orihara said.
Honda’s engineers have revised the combustion chamber and prechamber in search of more efficient combustion. They also changed the lubrication system to reduce internal friction and strengthened several areas to improve reliability.
Orihara has not revealed a specific power figure. However, he has described Honda’s target as a reasonably large step while acknowledging that this update alone will not remove the entire gap to the leading manufacturers.
Those engineering changes will matter only if Alonso and Stroll can feel the difference.
Improved combustion should provide stronger acceleration. Reduced friction can release performance that was previously being lost inside the engine. Better reliability would allow the drivers to use that power more aggressively without spending large parts of a race managing temperatures or protecting components.
For Alonso and Stroll, those gains could determine whether they remain behind a rival or arrive at the next braking zone with a genuine passing opportunity.
Zandvoort Will Provide the Real Answer
Aston Martin plans to bring further chassis updates to the Dutch Grand Prix. Honda intends to introduce its new engine specification at the same event.
That combination will make Zandvoort the first proper test of the partnership’s revised package.
The circuit’s flowing corners should reward the aerodynamic progress made in Hungary. Its main straight will still expose weak acceleration and inefficient energy deployment. A stronger engine would allow Aston Martin to protect the lap time gained through the corners instead of surrendering it on every straight.
The balance of responsibility inside the garage has changed. During the opening part of the season, both the chassis and the power unit restricted performance. It was difficult to identify where one problem ended and another began.
Budapest provided Aston Martin with a credible aerodynamic baseline. Honda now has a clearer target.
Wednesday’s 200-kilometre run cannot prove that Alonso and Stroll are ready to score points regularly. It can confirm that the new engine fits, operates reliably and communicates properly with the upgraded chassis.
Zandvoort will deliver the verdict that matters. Aston Martin will either return from the summer break with a complete midfield contender, or with an improved car that still lacks the power to finish the job.
READ MORE: McLaren Strikes Back In Hungary: Norris Triumphs While Ferrari And Mercedes Scramble
FAQs
When will Honda test its upgraded Formula 1 engine?
Honda plans to test the engine during a 200-kilometre filming day at the Hungaroring on Wednesday.
When will Honda race its new engine upgrade?
Honda plans to introduce the upgraded power unit at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.
What will Honda examine during the engine test?
Engineers will check installation, cooling, vibration, reliability and power delivery inside the upgraded Aston Martin chassis.
How did Aston Martin perform at the Hungarian Grand Prix?
Lance Stroll finished 13th, and Fernando Alonso took 14th after the team introduced its upgraded AMR26.
Why does Aston Martin still need more engine performance?
The car improved through Hungary’s corners but remained more than 10 km/h behind the leading speed trap figure.
