Honda reveal fresh weakness that could hit Aston Martin in Austria

The Silverstone-based outfit has endured a challenging start to the 2026 campaign, with positives proving relatively scarce amid ongoing issues affecting both its power unit and chassis. Orihara, speaking ahead of the race weekend, struck a cautious tone, noting that the characteristics of the Red Bull Ring could further expose weaknesses, particularly around turbocharger performance.

The Japanese motorsport chief explained that the high-altitude nature of the circuit will place additional strain on the power unit, making it more demanding for the turbocharger to operate effectively, factoring in its recent struggles.

“The Red Bull Ring is in the mountains, located at a high altitude. This means that the turbocharger is required to work harder compared to other races,” Orihara noted via the Honda outfit’s press release.

“When we had the MGU-H, we had an impact on the harvesting power at this circuit. However, as this component is no longer part of the 2026 regulations, we no longer have the MGU-H to assist the turbocharger, which may make it more challenging to operate both the turbocharger and the engine correctly at high altitude. The first thing we will do in FP1 is to check the behaviour of both the turbocharger and the engine,” he added.

Orihara also highlighted track temperature as another key factor, with cooling expected to play a crucial role in power unit performance over the weekend. He further pointed to the circuit’s layout as a potential disadvantage for certain power unit manufacturers, before stressing that the team will focus on maximising its package through careful adaptation.

“Moreover, this week, we will expect high temperatures at the track, so cooling will also be an important topic to factor in. Another characteristic of the circuit is its short layout. Despite its length, there are three fairly significant straights, and these are a demand on the power unit. The reality is that we may see a deficit here to other PU manufacturers, but we will adapt elements like our energy management strategy and driveability to maximise our package for the weekend,” he concluded.

Earlier, Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe outlined the factors behind the power unit struggles the team has faced during its difficult start to the partnership with Aston Martin.

Watanabe explained that Honda’s withdrawal from Formula 1 at the end of 2021, followed by its return 18 months later alongside Aston Martin, left the manufacturer at a competitive disadvantage compared with rival power unit suppliers.

While acknowledging the challenges, Watanabe remained realistic about the situation, suggesting there would be no immediate turnaround in performance. However, he did note that updates are expected during the summer races, aimed at improving the internal combustion engine and strengthening the overall package.