Honda stated that it is not solely responsible for Aston Martin’s difficult start to the 2026 Formula 1 season. According to the Japanese manufacturer, the vibration levels of the power unit were within expected ranges before integration with the AMR26 chassis.
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This statement comes after significant concerns about the car’s behavior, especially due to strong battery vibrations. The issue gained further attention after Adrian Newey warned, during the Australian GP weekend, that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll could risk permanent nerve damage in their hands if they completed an entire race under these conditions.
During the press conference held on Friday in Suzuka, Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe highlighted that development for 2026 started later compared to other teams. Nevertheless, the executive made a point of stating that responsibility for the problems cannot be attributed solely to the power unit.
“Yes, of course, we have sufficient experience in Formula 1 until 2025. So, as I said, the most difficult point is that we started development a bit later compared to the others,” Watanabe said when commenting on the transition from success with Red Bull until 2025 to the current situation with Aston Martin.
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The executive also emphasized that in initial tests, vibration levels were within acceptable ranges. However, the scenario changed after integration with the chassis designed by the Silverstone-based team: “In dyno tests, the vibration was at an acceptable level, but when we integrated it with the chassis, the vibration became much greater than in the tests,” said the Japanese executive.
Watanabe stressed that the solution requires joint work between manufacturer and team. According to him, the problem cannot be solved by Honda alone, as it also involves the car’s structure: “Of course, with just the power unit we won’t be able to solve the problem. We are working very closely with Aston Martin to solve this, not just with the power unit, but also together with the chassis,” he concluded.
Aston Martin is trying to find quick solutions to reverse the complicated start to the current season, while seeking to extract the potential of the AMR26 and reduce the vibrations that have been the main obstacle in the early stages of 2026.
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