Thursday in Formula 1 brought important news about engine development, the title fight, and the plans of the main teams. Honda’s updated engine impressed in its first test, while Helmut Marko acknowledged that he would not bet on a comeback from Max Verstappen in the 2026 season.
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Honda’s new power unit was used by Aston Martin during a filming day at the Hungaroring and is expected to officially debut at the Dutch GP. According to information published by *Motorsport Italy*, the package can deliver about 30 additional horsepower and would have eliminated the vibrations that hurt the team at the start of the championship. The advance adds to the package of 16 developments presented at the Hungarian GP, part of a plan that will continue in the next stages.
At Red Bull, Marko showed little optimism about Verstappen’s chances to react in the second half of the season. The Dutchman is in sixth place in the World Championship, with 109 points, while Kimi Antonelli leads with 219. Isack Hadjar, in turn, considered it positive to present similar assessments to his teammate about the car’s problems, as he understands that this confirms the necessary direction for development.
Ferrari also joined the debate about the technical race. Charles Leclerc demanded an aggressive stance in car development and defended that the team should not slow down the pace of updates after the below-expectation result in Hungary. At McLaren, Andrea Stella revealed that the car concept was modified after the team studied solutions used by rivals, a change that contributed to the evolution presented at the Hungaroring.
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In a different direction, Audi confirmed that it will not bring significant updates to its power unit until 2027. The team will focus available resources on the chassis and aerodynamics of the R26, while preparing broader changes for the next championship. Racing director Allan McNish explained that the decision also involves setting priorities within the budget cap.
The calendar completed the main topics of the day. Formula 1 abandoned the possibility of holding two races in Las Vegas, citing audience conflict with the NFL and customs difficulties faced by British teams after Brexit. The category also intends to keep Bahrain as the opener for 2027, although changes may still occur depending on the situation in the Middle East.
