Honda believes that the Monaco GP could represent an important opportunity for Aston Martin’s recovery in the 2026 Formula 1 season. After a championship start marked by reliability issues, the Japanese manufacturer has set clear goals to try to extract maximum performance from the package this coming weekend.
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This partnership between Honda and Aston Martin had a complicated start since the debut of the AMR26 this year. Failures and difficulties involving the power unit contributed to five retirements combined between Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in the first five rounds of the championship.
The current scenario reflects these difficulties. The team occupies the last position in the constructors’ championship, even behind the newcomer Cadillac. Still, the characteristics of the Monte Carlo circuit offer a chance to seek a more competitive result, on a track where top speed is less relevant.
Shintaro Orihara, Honda’s general track manager and chief engineer, highlighted that preparation for Monaco requires a specific approach. According to him, the manufacturer held special simulation sessions at Aston Martin’s technology center to refine energy management settings.
“The Monaco Circuit is very unique, and our power units require dedicated preparation to adapt to the conditions. We conducted specific sessions with the drivers in the simulator at the AMR Technology Campus to optimize energy management settings,” Orihara said.
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Another point considered fundamental by Honda is the cooling system. According to the Japanese engineer, the low average speeds of the street track create additional challenges for cooling the components, requiring joint work between manufacturer and team to find the ideal setup both in free practice and in heavy traffic conditions.
Orihara also emphasized the importance of the three free practice sessions available throughout the weekend: “It is crucial to optimize energy management and track usage during these sessions,” he said. The executive also highlighted that driver feedback will be essential for the necessary adjustments throughout the event.
He continued: “Driver feedback will be fundamental because energy management has a significant impact on drivability,” he added.
Therefore, Honda sees drivability as one of the main factors to achieve a positive result: “Monaco has many slow corners, so it is essential to maximize drivability to give the drivers the greatest possible confidence. We can find lap time through drivability here,” Orihara concluded, pointing to the manufacturer’s focus on the challenge on the streets of the Principality.
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