Honda Bringing Forward Upgraded Engine Debut to Hungaroring Filming Day

Honda will debut its upgraded power unit sooner than planned, running the revised engine at a Hungaroring filming day next week. The test accelerates a schedule originally targeting the Dutch Grand Prix, while Aston Martin introduces its B-spec AMR26 chassis at this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

Aston Martin and Honda have struggled through a difficult opening phase to their 2026 partnership. Bringing the engine forward signals growing confidence within the Japanese manufacturer and offers the first real chance to judge whether the collaboration can recover. With a new chassis and revised power unit now converging, this could prove critical to climbing back up the order.

The details:

• Accelerated timeline: Honda's revised power unit was initially slated for Zandvoort after the summer break, but will now run at a Hungaroring filming day next week.
• Chassis debut: Aston Martin is rolling out its heavily upgraded AMR26 this weekend, with both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll expected to have the new parts available from FP1.
• Track evaluation: The Hungaroring offers a sharp contrast to power-sensitive Spa, where the team struggled for pace. Honda boss Shintaro Orihara noted Hungary is "a good track to evaluate how good the chassis is" given its lower power demands.
• Reliability: Honda is confident the new chassis will not reignite the vibration issues that plagued the pairing at the season opener.

What's next:

The upgraded Honda engine is still expected to make its race debut at the Dutch Grand Prix, but the Hungaroring running provides valuable real-world validation. If the filming day goes smoothly and the B-spec chassis delivers the anticipated gains, Aston Martin could emerge from the summer break as a significantly more competitive outfit.