Honda\u2019s new Formula 1 engine for Aston Martin will make its track debut during a filming day in Hungary on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The first phase of the package of changes that Aston Martin and Honda hope will rescue their awful 2026 season arrived for the Hungarian Grand Prix, in the form of a substantial set of chassis upgrades.<\/p>\n
That allowed Fernando Alonso to reach Q2 and qualify a season-high 16th.<\/p>\n
In the race, Lance Stroll and Alonso – who have recently struggled to even run with the all-new Cadillac team – finished 13th and 14th, beating an Alpine and both Haas and Williams cars.<\/p>\n
Honda’s trackside general manager and chief engineer Shintaro Orihara revealed after the race that the filming day at the start of the summer break would be used to try the engine upgrade that Aston Martin is now counting on for further progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is a good opportunity to check how our new engine works on the chassis,\u201d Orihara said of the filming day, in which teams are limited to 200km of running and must use special \u2018demonstration\u2019 tyres.<\/p>\n
Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack said the pace gain the team had showed in Hungary was in line with its hopes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe came here and we said the main objective is to go back racing,\u201d he said, in reference to having spent the year so far mostly cut adrift at the back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we achieved that. I think the upgrade package works. And now we need to bring the next steps.\u201d<\/p>\n
Orihara agreed that specifically meant the new engine.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow we are back to racing the field. Then all improvement is very important to catch up to others,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo introduce the new power unit in Zandvoort is quite important now the chassis is working well. So our power unit should bring some laptime.\u201d<\/p>\n