Aston Martin shows signs of life — but the AMR26 still has a mountain to climb
“We know what to improve and we know how,” says Orihara, who points to “around the summer break” as the date for im provements.
Aston Martin fans can spin the Canadian Grand Prix weekend two ways — and both versions are true. On the bright side, small tweaks to the engine and gearbox finally gave the AMR26 a bit more bite over a single lap. Fernando Alonso even snagged his best qualifying position of 2026 (P15) on Friday at Q2, something that felt out of reach just a month ago.
But the pessimists have plenty of ammunition too. In race trim, the AMR26 is still painfully off the pace — up to four seconds per lap slower than Mercedes — and Alonso’s Sunday ended early thanks to a bizarre issue with his seat. Progress is real, but the gap remains enormous.
Alonso summed it up bluntly: “We were faster in Canada than in Miami with exactly the same car… but the fundamental problem — three seconds of missing pace — will only be solved with more engine power and the aero package coming in the second half of the year.”
Newey’s Aero Package and Honda’s Engine Overhaul: The Real Turning Points
Everyone inside the team knows the truth: results won’t change meaningfully until Adrian Newey’s aerodynamic upgrades arrive and Honda’s revised power unit gets the green light.
Honda is already talking timelines as they wait for the FIA to finalize concessions through the ADUO system, which would allow them to push forward on development. Their message is cautiously optimistic:
- The improvements are long‑term, but fans won’t have to wait until the end of the season.
- Honda expects visible progress by the summer break — a crucial window for Aston Martin.
A Honda trackside engineer explained the priorities:
- Combustion efficiency must improve — they already have ideas and early data looks promising.
- Internal friction needs to drop to unlock more performance.
- The to‑do list is long, but the factory is fully engaged.
Why Montreal looked better: smoother driveability
Honda also clarified how they improved the car’s handling in Montreal. They updated several engine‑control parameters, and the data showed encouraging signs. Drivers still want more — especially in how the engine delivers torque — but Honda believes they’re heading in the right direction.
There’s still a gap between what the drivers request and what the power unit delivers, but Honda insists they know how to close it and will keep pushing in that direction.
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