Aston Martin Successfully Tests New Honda Engine

While Alpine's Franco Colapinto and Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto were conducting the second day of Pirelli's 2027 tire finalization tests, Aston Martin seized the opportunity for their second filming day of the season at the Hungaroring circuit.

This was an opportunity too good to miss, especially since the B-spec of the AMR26 car debuted at the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend. It incorporated all the new developments introduced by Adrian Newey's technical team, both in the chassis and the car's aerodynamics.

The significant upgrade propelled Aston Martin back into the midfield, with Fernando Alonso managing to break into Q2 for the first time this year. In the race, he and teammate Lance Stroll finished 14th and 13th respectively.

Crucially, Wednesday's filming day was utilized for the initial shakedown of Honda's eagerly anticipated new power unit, which benefits from the development token granted by the ADUO system.

The fact that the test was more focused on analyzing the Honda RA626H engine than on capturing footage is evident, as driving duties were entrusted to the team's third driver, American Jack Crawford. Otherwise, the two main drivers would likely have been called upon. Japanese engineers, working alongside the Aston Martin team, were able to make important comparisons with the AMR26 car that raced over the weekend, using race data – despite only demonstration tires being permitted during filming days.

Initial indications appear positive, with the test reportedly going well and the problematic vibrations that plagued the start of the season seemingly eliminated. Honda plans to introduce its upgraded power unit, believed to offer up to 30 horsepower, at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort – the first race after the summer break on August 23rd.

While certainly not enough to compete with teams like Mercedes or Red Bull-Ford, this represents a significant step forward. Combined with the radically revised car, it could give Alonso and Stroll the final push they need to start contending for points at certain circuits.

Photos: Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team