Honda preparing upgrades for the Chinese Grand Prix

Japan’s Shiga Sports news agency reports that despite the power unit issues Aston Martin encountered during pre-season testing, morale remains high at Honda.

According to sources within the company, engineers at the Sakura base are currently working on an upgrade package aimed at improving both the reliability and efficiency of the power unit. Honda is unlikely to have these updates ready for the season-opening race in Melbourne, but the plan is for Aston Martin to introduce them at the second round of the season, the Chinese Grand Prix.

After that, a phased program will begin focusing on further optimising the power unit and improving integration with the gearbox. At the same time, parallel work is being carried out on the chassis at Aston Martin’s Silverstone facility. The agency reports that during an internal meeting, Adrian Newey stated that engineers are targeting major chassis upgrades by the British Grand Prix, with the ambition of turning the AMR26 into one of the most efficient cars in the field.

Although Honda and Aston Martin have maintained a cautious tone in their official statements, internal assessments are described as “positive.” The team agrees that patience and ongoing development will be vital at the season’s start.

It is worth recalling that during the Bahrain tests, Aston Martin stood out for its mileage. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll completed a combined total of 334 laps. However, the team’s drivers also finished at the bottom of the lap time charts among the 22 drivers who took part.