Aston Martin will take an important step in its Formula 1 development next week. The team will use an updated version of the Honda power unit in a filming day at the Hungaroring, marking the first kilometers of the new package.
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According to information, the activity will take place on the Wednesday following the Hungarian GP, using the AMR26. Under the category’s rules, each team can carry out two filming days per season, with a limit of 200 kilometers in each session.
The work is part of Honda’s schedule to introduce the update during a GP weekend. Still at the British GP, the Japanese manufacturer’s trackside general manager and chief engineer, Shintaro Orihara, stated that the goal is to debut the novelty at the Dutch GP.
“I always said it would be in the summer, but maybe that’s a boring answer. So, I would say our goal is the Netherlands. We are working hard to complete our to-do list and bring the new power unit to the Netherlands. That is our goal,” Orihara stated.
The executive explained that the focus of development is on engine performance and reliability: “We are working on the combustion chamber format, also modifying the pre-chamber. In addition, we are reducing friction by changing the lubrication system. And, of course, if we increase performance, we need to increase reliability,” he added.
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In addition to the filming day, Aston Martin will participate in Pirelli’s tire tests after the Hungarian GP alongside Alpine and Audi. The activity will serve to expand data collection at a time of technical evolution for the team.
At the Hungaroring, Aston Martin brought 16 updates to the car and achieved its first Q2 participation of the season. Fernando Alonso highlighted that, although the package did not cause a major change in positions, it brought a new perspective to the team.
“We are no longer chasing something we don’t know what it is. Now we know exactly what we are looking for, what the goals are for the next update package and also for next year. For me, that is the biggest change this weekend,” concluded the Spaniard.
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