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New Delhi: Honda will introduce an updated power unit on Aston Martin’s F1 car at the Dutch Grand Prix. Honda’s trackside general manager and chief engineer, Orihara, in the brand’s Belgian GP preview confirmed that there would be “two more races” until the powertrain gets an upgrade. 

Orihara noted that Honda was continuing to gather valuable data with the existing specs before introducing the updated unit. 

The learnings, particularly around energy deployment, are expected to prove useful for power-sensitive circuits such as Monza, where long straights place greater demands on the hybrid system.

The upgrade comes at a crucial stage for Aston Martin, which hasn’t had the best of the season so far. The team has spent much of this season battling at the back of the field alongside newcomer Cadilla. In fact, Fernando Alonso’s lone championship point at the Monaco Grand Prix is also the only point the team has scored this season so far.

Honda’s power unit has been identified as the least competitive under Formula 1’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) regulations. That lets the manufacturer introduce performance improvements during the season. The revised package is scheduled to make its debut following the summer break.

Until then, Aston Martin is expected to face two challenging outings at, first at Spa-Francorchamps and then at Hungaroring. Orihara explained that Spa’s long straights and limited energy harvesting make efficient deployment of the MGU-K especially important, while the circuit also places added stress on power unit reliability. He added that the unpredictable Belgian weather could further complicate matters, with wet conditions potentially becoming a major factor.

Despite the planned engine upgrade, Aston Martin’s main focus is towards its 2027 challenger. With Formula 1’s budget cap and aerodynamic testing restrictions in place, the team has acknowledged that making significant improvements in the remainder of the current season will be difficult. With no way of reaching the midfield of the track, the team is looking ahead towards 2027.