Honda reveals 'secret' changes to new power unit for Aston Martin

Honda has offered a rare look inside the significant internal changes to its new-spec Formula 1 power unit, confirming that Aston Martin will debut the upgraded package at Zandvoort. The Japanese manufacturer highlighted faster combustion through a revised pre-chamber, redesigned pistons, and friction-reduction measures as the core of the update, while remaining tight-lipped on exact power gains.

Why it matters:

• After a difficult first season together, the Aston Martin-Honda partnership needs a breakthrough to match the midfield front-runners and begin closing the gap to the top.
• The upgrade arrives as Aston Martin has already found confidence with a substantial chassis step on the AMR26, meaning the engine gains could compound recent progress rather than paper over cracks.
• In F1's tightly compressed development race, genuine internal combustion gains are increasingly rare and valuable; Honda's broad rethink signals serious intent beyond a simple reliability fix.

The details:

• Honda chief F1 engineer Shintaro Orihara confirmed the focus was on making combustion faster. He revealed a modified pre-chamber and altered piston shape to improve the burn efficiency of the fuel-air mixture.
• The team also revised the lubrication system to cut internal friction, a change that can unlock lap time without increasing fuel consumption.
• Orihara declined to disclose exact power figures but stated Honda had met its internal targets, a carefully worded admission that typically implies a meaningful step in the paddock.
• He expressed strong confidence in the work completed at HRC's Sakura facility, noting the factory had delivered everything asked of it for the spec-two engine.
• The changes represent a broad internal rethink rather than a cosmetic update, touching the combustion chamber, piston geometry, and mechanical efficiency simultaneously.

What's next:

• All eyes will turn to Zandvoort to see whether the theoretical gains translate to tangible lap time on a track that rewards aerodynamic efficiency and traction out of its banked corners.
• If the package delivers as hoped, it could mark the moment Honda's Aston Martin project finally shifts from promise to proven performance, setting the tone for the remainder of the 2026 campaign.