Newey says Honda faces progress challenges in Formula 1 return

Honda sits 10th in the championship, ahead only of Cadillac, as the manufacturer navigates its first year back in Formula 1. Newey explains that Honda are a little bit behind where Red Bull, as the works team, picked up Honda in ’19. This status follows a season that began in Melbourne with serious vibration and reliability problems for the Honda power unit. While Fernando Alonso secured eighth place in the rain-affected Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, the team faced a poor weekend in Singapore. Although Honda introduced ADUO updates to the internal combustion engine and the turbo, these steps did not help Aston Martin fight regularly for points. Newey says "Honda have probably been a little bit disappointed with how much progress they have managed to make this year." He notes that the data is available to work out where the weakness lies in the Aston Martin-Honda package. He also says he has every confidence that Honda will accelerate quickly and understand the problems of these particular PU regulations. Newey notes that the team is working closely with Honda and remains hopeful of the future. I find that the team is still struggling to find the levels they reached when Honda first returned to the sport in 2015.

Silverstone factory atmosphere

Newey says there is a "buzz" at the Silverstone factory. He says, "I think we’re making huge amounts of progress. It really feels now like the team is coming together." He describes how ideas are generated and how people work late in the evening. Newey says that he sees many parallels between his start at Red Bull and his arrival at Aston Martin, specifically regarding how both teams had to work to break down silos and improve the culture after periods of turmoil involving changes of owners and senior managers. This internal energy contrasts with the results on track, where the AMR26 saw Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll finish P12 and P13 during Friday’s FP1 in Austin. Newey notes that the current deficit is seen in the ADUO, but he says the relative deficit between the chassis and the engine is better seen through GPS data. He adds that since the ADUO is only a power measurement, there is no point in dwelling on it. Newey says the team is working to break down silos and improve the culture.

2027 power unit development

Honda is preparing for 2027, when rules change to increase the fuel-flow rate and lift the boost pressure. Newey says there are projects at the Sakura base in Japan that are in their early stages of development but show promise. Because of the current deficit, Honda has two additional homologation upgrade opportunities in 2027, irrespective of how well it starts next season, assuming the Power Unit Advisory Committee allows it. Newey says Honda is "working hard" and has "a lot of good people, a lot of good processes now in place." He says it is too early to comment on whether a further development will occur for race eight. I believe the team’s future depends on these technical steps because Newey says the future is the important bit for both companies. Newey adds that they are very determined.