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The initial months of Honda's partnership with Aston Martin have been incredibly challenging, but the Japanese manufacturer is now looking confidently ahead.
Honda's Formula 1 project looks completely different from the glorious years with Red Bull in terms of personnel. This led the company to realize as early as January that the beginning of this new era would be problematic – even more so than anticipated, as acknowledged by trackside general manager and chief engineer Shintaro Orihara.
At Zandvoort, the Japanese manufacturer will introduce its first upgrade of the year, ADUO, which is entirely focused on the internal combustion engine. This step aims to bring Honda back into the "competitive field" in terms of engine power, although several more improvements will be needed to close the gap. Development will continue into 2027, which is already a major focus behind the scenes.
"For 2027, we have slightly different fuel flow regulations, but our development program remains the same. We need to further improve the performance of the internal combustion engine. So we will continue to focus on enhancing our ICE performance and aim to make bigger strides in that direction in 2027. That is our main focus," Orihara stated in an exclusive interview with motorsport.com.
Beyond improving the internal combustion engine, integration into the chassis is also a key priority for the coming year. The new engine and chassis offer an opportunity for better integration of Honda's power unit into Adrian Newey's design, Orihara admitted.
Earlier this year, there was much discussion regarding Newey's alleged last-minute demands and the complexity they brought. However, with a year of collaborative experience now under their belt, opportunities are emerging to improve integration for the next season.
"We are working closely with Aston Martin to better integrate our power unit into their new chassis. So, yes, we are now focused on developing a strong engine for 2027, and we are also working hard with Aston Martin behind the scenes."
Honda Sets Ambitious Goal Despite Difficult Start
Honda's previous stint in Formula 1 also began with difficulties but ultimately culminated in world titles with Red Bull and Max Verstappen. Given the current struggles, no one at Silverstone (Aston Martin) or Sakura (Honda) is yet thinking about victories, let alone world championships, but the past provides confidence that a new turnaround can be achieved in the long term.
When asked about the expected timeline for reaching the competitive level Honda aims for, Orihara revealed: "It's difficult to give an exact timeframe in Formula 1 because our performance is always relative to other competitors. After the summer break, we want to get back into the competitive field, and then we are working hard at the factory to make an even bigger step for 2027, but, again, we have to be realistic. So I think at the beginning of 2027, we might not have the best power unit yet, but we will be closer to the leading competitor. And then we will continue to push hard to become a top competitor, hopefully, in 2027 or 2028."
This means Honda aims to be a benchmark in Formula 1 again by the end of next season or the beginning of the 2028 campaign, or at least to rejoin the leading group of power unit manufacturers.
Could Reliability Become an Issue Again in 2027?
However, catching up is not the only aspect Honda needs to consider for the coming year.
All manufacturers must also be prepared for the announced changes in fuel flow. These are part of a broader transition to a 58-42 ratio between the internal combustion engine and electric power in 2027, followed by a planned 60-40 ratio in 2028.
"The most challenging point in this will probably be reliability. Even if the fuel flow wasn't changing, reliability developments would still be necessary on our part if we improve performance. But that is expected anyway. But now we are also increasing the fuel flow, so the reliability requirements will be quite significant. For us, it's about improving combustion and, on top of that, increasing fuel flow," Orihara said. "There will be high demands for reliability, and the development time is quite short. So I think this is a challenging point, but thanks to the FIA, they have taken reasonable steps. If we had to get a big increase all at once, that would have been a serious problem. But now that they have split it into two steps, the number is reasonable in terms of power increase, considering we also have to take care of the show. It will still be a challenge for reliability, but I think it's a good solution," the Japanese concluded.
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