Honda and Aston Martin target improved drivability for Canadian GP

Honda and the Aston Martin Formula 1 team are approaching the Canadian Grand Prix with a renewed focus on performance, following significant progress in resolving early-season reliability issues. After a difficult start to the 2026 campaign, the team's power unit partner says the most severe problems, centered on aggressive battery vibrations, have been addressed.

The breakthrough followed an intensive investigation after the Japanese Grand Prix, where Aston Martin left a chassis in Japan for Honda engineers to study. By the Miami Grand Prix, the team achieved its first double finish of the season in both the Sprint and the Grand Prix, marking a clear step forward in reliability. Honda's trackside general manager, Shintaro Orihara, stated that the battery issues are now gone, allowing the team to shift its focus.

The priority has moved to improving drivability and energy management, areas seen as key to unlocking lap time. The 2026 technical regulations have increased energy recuperation and altered demands on engine braking and downshifting, creating new challenges for drivers. In Miami, both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll experienced issues with axle locking and gearbox...