Honda has already set a goal to regain ground among the main power unit suppliers in Formula 1. Shintaro Orihara, the project’s chief engineer, expects the Japanese manufacturer to be close to the leaders by 2027 and to return to the top group between 2027 and 2028.
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The start of the partnership with Aston Martin this year was more difficult than expected, but Honda is now focusing its efforts on the evolution of the combustion engine. In Zandvoort, the manufacturer will introduce its first ADUO update of the year, fully dedicated to the power unit, with the intention of reducing part of the performance gap.
This development will gain even more importance in 2027, when there will be a change in the rules related to fuel flow: “We will still focus on improving the performance of our combustion engine, and we want to take bigger steps for that in 2027. That is our main focus,” Orihara said in an interview with Motorsport.com.
Honda is also working to improve the integration of its power unit with Aston Martin’s new chassis, leveraging the experience gained in the first season of the partnership: “We are talking closely with Aston Martin to better integrate our power unit with the new chassis. So, yes, we are now focused on developing a good engine for 2027 and also working closely with Aston Martin behind the scenes,” he said.
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According to Orihara, the manufacturer does not expect to start 2027 already as a reference among engines, but believes it can significantly reduce the gap: “At the beginning of 2027, we may still not have the best power units, but we will be closer to the main competitor. And then we will continue working hard to be a top contender, I hope, in 2027 or 2028,” he added.
Reliability will also be one of the main challenges. With the increase in fuel flow and the pursuit of more performance, the demands on the engine will be greater, but Orihara considered the decision to implement the changes in two stages positive: “It will still be a challenge for reliability, but I think it was a good decision,” concluded the Honda executive.
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