Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have delivered blunt verdicts after Honda debuted its latest power unit upgrade at the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix.
Following a breakthrough result in Hungary before the summer break, after an extensive upgrade package was applied to the AMR26, hopes were high that Honda could deliver with its new engine for Zandvoort.
Despite Lance Stroll making noises ahead of the weekend of being able to feel more power during a filming day shakedown, the Dutch GP has proven to be challenging for both Aston Martin and Honda.
Alonso experienced power unit issues during Sprint Qualifying, relegating him to the back row of the grid. Stroll struggled for both balance and power, with both drivers eliminated in Q1 in qualifying for Sunday’s race.
After the session, Stroll admitted that Honda still has a long way to go in order to make up the defecit to the frontrunners, adding that multiple factors lay behind the issues.
“Not so much, I think. Maybe a bit, but not nearly enough,”
“On the chassis side, I think we’re quite good.
“We made a big step in Budapest. The drivability and the power is the next thing we need to really work on.”
Detailing the issues with the new Honda power unit, Stroll hinted at further complications arising from the upgrade.
“Not good, not good. It’s a lottery,” he said.
“Right now, we’re just not getting the consistent engine braking, going into the corner and a lot of rejected downshifts. So, yeah, a lot of issues.”
Fernando Alonso: “We need to find another step” at Monza
Teammate Alonso, while more diplomatic, also did not shy away from laying the blame firmly at Honda’s door, pressuring Aston Martin’s engine partner to find improvements ahead of the Italian GP in two week’s time.
“Unfortunately, here on the track side, there is not much we can do,”
“We need to rely on some big changes in the factory or software or whatever is needed.
“This has to come from Japan, so it’s not from one day to the next.
“It’s more towards Monza where we need to find another step there. There are a couple of tenths to optimise in the package.”
In a sport built on momentum, stumbling blocks can prove extremely costly. Honda has presented a hurdle for Aston Martin and itself to overcome with its new engine upgrade, and Sunday’s race looks set to be another challenging day for both team and engine partner.
How much work can be done in just two weeks remains to be seen, and with straight line speed key at Monza, the next two rounds of the championship may test Aston Martin and Honda further.
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