(Motorsport-Total.com) – Honda will use its revised power unit for the first time this Wednesday at a filming day for Aston Martin at the Hungaroring. Originally, the debut of the new engine was planned only at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break.
Read more Williams Debacle: Sainz doubts B-Spec breakthrough
The deployment comes just a few days after an encouraging weekend for Aston Martin at the Hungarian Grand Prix. There, the team ran the B-specification of the AMR26 for the first time and recorded a significant performance improvement in both qualifying and the race.
The new power unit was originally intended for its race debut in Zandvoort. However, Honda has now confirmed that the new engine will be used for the first time in the AMR26 at the filming day at the Hungaroring. The first Formula 1 weekend with the new specification will then follow from August 21 to 23 in the Netherlands.
Filming day serves as a dress rehearsal for the new power unit
“We supported the team in Hungary with the integration of the power unit. We were also able to collect important data that will help us with regard to the next race,” explains Shintaro Orihara, Trackside General Manager and Chief Engineer of Honda.
“Now we will take the important step and introduce the new specification of our power unit in the Netherlands. Before that, we will use the new engine for the first time in the AMR26 at the filming day on Wednesday, before the summer break begins,” Orihara continues.
Read more Williams driver frustrated: «Can’t really drive at all»
Aston Martin hopes for further progress
Sportingly, the Hungary weekend was still without points for Aston Martin despite a performance improvement. Lance Stroll finished 13th and came just ahead of teammate Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard also reached the second qualifying segment of a Grand Prix for the first time this season. This put Aston Martin ahead of Cadillac, Williams, and Haas.
Budapest: Driver ratings by Marc Surer and the editorial team
Alonso still sees an important step forward in the recent updates: “I think that was a good step forward, both in qualifying and in the race. This is a new starting point with which we can enter the second half of the season.”
“The correlation is right and the performance gain is there, just as we expected. Of course, we are still at the very beginning with this new car. It is a completely new car with a new concept. Therefore, there is probably still further potential in setup, optimization, and similar areas,” the Spaniard explains further.
Looking ahead to the next Grand Prix in Zandvoort, Alonso expects additional insights from the new Honda power unit. The weekend should show where Aston Martin stands in comparison to the competition after the recent updates and which positions the team can fight for in the future.
Read more Driver ratings Budapest: Nico Hülkenberg voted fourth