Honda trackside chief Shintaro Orihara has outlined how this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix will serve as another track on which to collect vital data, as its Formula 1 engine upgrade approaches.
The Japanese giants have been working consistently across the opening nine races to improve their much-maligned power unit, amid a tumultuous season alongside Aston Martin.
Having rid the AMR26 of the extreme vibrations plaguing it and drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, Honda has begun to focus on improving performance, with qualification for the FIA’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities [ADUO] scheme confirmed.
The much-loved and notorious Spa-Francorchamps circuit poses many issues, namely the energy harvesting issues the 50-50 hybrids will pose all teams on such a fast track.
But for Honda, it will be a vital chance to “keep learning” with the current grade of engine as it continues to finely tune its upcoming developments.
“Spa is home to the longest track on the 2026 calendar, and it’s also one of the most popular amongst drivers and fans. It’s a technical circuit for the drivers, with complex corner sections,” he said.
“The combination of long straights and high-speed corners makes it a very challenging circuit for the engineers too, both to predict throttle application and looking at energy deployment over the course of the lap.
“We have two more races before we introduce the new engine. It’s important to keep learning with this current spec, so we can take those energy deployment findings into future races, like Monza, where we also have the long straights.”
‘Anything can happen’ with Belgian GP weather conditions
One thing that has yet to cause teams problems this season is the weather, as all nine races so far have been dry, denying fans the chance to see the polarising new challengers tackled in the wet.
But Orihara acknowledged that Spa is often a circuit that will pose weather-based challenges, with rain never seemingly too far away.
“An added unknown is the changeable weather conditions at the circuit,” he said.
“At Silverstone it remained dry, so Spa could be the first time where we have proper wet conditions in a session. In terms of the weather, anything can happen here.”
Aston Martin will be hoping for any potential rainfall to become a leveller and therefore increase its chances of scoring a positive result, with the team still only on one point, scored by Alonso at Monaco.
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