Honda signals new direction for Aston Martin after major Suzuka breakthrough

The motorsport chief, who detailed his relief with the Silverstone-based outfit completing a race for the first time this season in Suzuka, noted how the focus now shifts further to finding a permanent fix to the vibration woes that have continued to plague the AMR26 machinery.

Speaking following the conclusion of the Mie Prefecture event, Watanabe noted how the Japanese outfit are now taking measures to find a fitting solution to the woes of the power unit, in order to record an even better outing at the next race in Miami.

“We will address the vibration problem at its root. For now, this is a temporary solution. We are taking temporary measures to prevent damage to the battery. However, we need to fix it in cooperation with the vehicle body, so we will proceed with this as one team,” Watanabe said via Motorsports Japan.

“We want to improve the precision of our energy management and enhance drivability, and perform as well as possible to take on the next race in Miami,” he concluded.

The Aston Martin team completed its first Grand Prix distance of the season with Fernando Alonso, who finished 18th. However, teammate Lance Stroll was forced to retire after encountering a technical issue during the race.

Earlier, Watanabe also noted how the Honda engine isn’t solely to blame for the vibrations experienced by the Aston Martin car.

The AMR26 has largely been plagued with heavy vibrations, which have been signalled as capable of causing permanent nerve damage to both Alonso and Stroll. Watanabe, however, noted how the chassis also has a role to play in the issue with the Aston Martin car.

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