Honda plays down FIA 'magic' fix as Alonso future hangs in balance

Honda has pushed back on expectations that FIA intervention will solve its power unit struggles, with chief engineer Shintaro Orihara insisting the manufacturer must improve "by ourselves" amid Fernando Alonso's uncertain future.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has revealed he held talks with Alonso over the 2026 regulations, stating "there is no way we can allow Fernando to leave" and hinting at further regulatory proposals beyond the additional development and upgrade opportunities (ADUO) already in place.

Why it matters:

Honda is among several power unit manufacturers measured at more than 4 per cent behind Red Bull Powertrains' benchmark internal combustion engine, which enjoys two extra homologation periods as it aims to supply Aston Martin with a class-leading package. With Alonso weighing up his future, the situation has escalated to the highest levels of the FIA - but any proposed regulatory changes would still be subject to a vote.

The Details:

• Orihara's stance: "I don't know that he is thinking that, so I don't think he can give us some magic," Orihara told PlanetF1.com when asked about Ben Sulayem's comments. "We are focused on our development programme, working hard to improve by ourselves."
• No major upgrades planned: Honda does not have significant developments scheduled for the remainder of 2026, but believes there is still performance to be found through calibration changes.
• Regulatory context: Ben Sulayem met with Lawrence Stroll and pledged "I am going to do the changes," though Toto Wolff acknowledged Alonso's conversation with the FIA president was "fair enough" in the circumstances.
• Progress signs: Orihara pointed to improvements in driveability at both Monza and Madrid as encouraging signs, with energy management and engine tuning set to be the focus going forward.

What's next:

Formula 1 heads to the Baku City Circuit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the opening round of the season's first triple-header. Honda will continue making "small steps" on calibration and energy management, while the regulatory question around Alonso's future remains unresolved.