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Adrian Newey has admitted that Honda's current power unit performance in the Aston Martin car is lagging behind the level the Japanese manufacturer demonstrated at the start of their Red Bull partnership in 2019.
The Japanese manufacturer returned to Formula 1 in 2026 as Aston Martin's official works engine supplier, replacing Mercedes. However, the dawn of the new power unit regulations has proved to be a baptism of fire for the Silverstone-based outfit.
Newey, who now serves as Managing Technical Partner and team boss at Aston Martin, drew a direct comparison to his experience at Red Bull seven years ago. Back then, the Milton Keynes squad inherited a power unit that had already ironed out its initial teething problems following a turbulent stint with McLaren.
Asked whether Aston Martin's current struggles mirror Red Bull's starting point in 2019, Newey told select media that the context and timeline are fundamentally different.
“To be completely honest, Honda is currently a little further behind than where the Red Bull works team found them in 2019. Back then, though, four seasons had already passed since their initial return in 2015,” Newey explained. “Now, this is their first campaign back in the championship. I’ll say it again: they are an incredible company, and I am entirely confident that they will ramp up the pace and master the intricacies of the new technical regulations.”
Too early for 2027 season predictions
Intensive development is already underway at Honda's base to address their current weaknesses ahead of next year, with Aston Martin keenly aware that they cannot afford another campaign languishing towards the back of the grid.
Newey opted against breaking down the exact performance deficit between the chassis and the power unit, noting that on-track GPS data tells the full story.
“It's not my job to quantify the exact split between the chassis and the engine. Anyone who analyses the GPS telemetry can paint a pretty clear picture of the situation,” the design guru noted.
Looking ahead to 2027, when the technical regulations remain stable, Newey struck an optimistic tone regarding future development.
“Regarding 2027, Honda is channelling an immense amount of energy into projects that, although still in their early phases, show immense potential. It’s still too early to predict exactly where the power unit will stand at the start of next season, and whether the ADUO regulations will allow for further upgrades after the opening eight races,” Newey concluded.
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