Adrian Newey reveals Honda inexperience left Aston Martin blindsided
- Caitlyn Gordon
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
In a weekend to forget for Aston Martin, Adrian Newey opens up about how Aston Martin was left blindsided by the inexperience of Honda.
The spotlight has been on Aston Martin since pre-season testing in Bahrain - but for all the wrong reasons. After discovering vibration issues originating from the Honda power unit, the stiff nature of the chassis has led to other issues, such as mirrors and taillights falling off.
A sobering assessment of the situation was revealed on Thursday, as Adrian Newey stated that the team will run limited laps in the season opener as the persistent vibration risks permanent nerve damage to Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
On Friday, the first practice session began, and the grim reality was highlighted. During the first hour, Alonso was unable to get any running time as a technical issue hindered his morning. On the other side of the garage, Stroll was only able to run three laps, finishing a worrying 30 seconds off the pace. Some positives were gathered in the second session as Alonso was able to head onto the track. The pair clocked in 31 laps combined, finishing 20th and 21st, respectively, 4.9 seconds off the pace.
Following the session, team principal Newey was quizzed about the team's partnership with Honda. The Japanese supplier originally left the sport back in 2021, after seven years working with a handful of teams. It was then revealed that Aston Martin would be bringing Honda back into the sport, as they signed a long-term contract back in May 2023.
"Honda pulled out at the end of 2021. They then re-entered the sport kind of at the end of 2022, so roughly a year and a bit out of the competition.” Newey said.
"When they reformed a lot of the original group had, it now transpires, disbanded, gone to work on solar panels or whatever. So a lot of the group that reformed are actually fresh to Formula 1, they didn't bring the experience that they had had previously
"Plus, when they came back in 2023 that was the first year of the budget cap introduction for engines so all their rivals had been developing away through '21 and '22 with continuity the existing.”
Newey was then asked if he was aware of the level of inexperience within Honda after signing a contract with them back in 2023:
"No, we weren't.” He bluntly answered.
“We only really became aware of it kind of November of last year when we - Lawrence [Stroll], Andy Cowell and myself - went to Tokyo to discuss as rumours starting to suggest that their original target power they wouldn't achieve for race one.
"Out of that came the fact that many of the original workforce had not returned when they restarted.”
The weekend will continue to drag for Aston Martin as they have only two available batteries, with no others being able to be flown in as Honda has not got any spares available. The team arrived with four consistent issues: “conditioning, communication problems.” The AMR26 will take part in qualifying on Saturday, where it is expected to be another tough session.
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