Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are far from satisfied with the new Honda power unit. After the success of the upgrade package for the chassis during the Hungarian GP, the Japanese engine supplier also decided to bring upgrades for the engine to Zandvoort. So far, however, this has not only resulted in disappointing results but also new problems: “It’s really a lottery,” sighs Stroll.
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Aston Martin already brought a first upgrade package for the chassis during the Hungarian GP. One Grand Prix later, it is the turn of engine supplier Honda. The hope was that the new upgrades to the power unit would yield a better result in Zandvoort, but so far this has been severely disappointing. More than eighteenth and nineteenth starting positions were not possible during qualifying for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll respectively.
According to Stroll, there is still a long way to go for Honda. “On the chassis side, I think we are doing well,” the Canadian told the media in Zandvoort. “We made a step in Budapest. Drivability and power are the next points we really need to work on now.”
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Lottery
Stroll then went deeper into the problems with the new Honda engine and hinted that the upgrade brings even more complications. “Not good, not good. It’s a lottery,” said the driver. “At the moment, we just don’t get consistent engine braking when entering the corner and many downshifting attempts are rejected. So yes, there are many problems.”
According to teammate Alonso, the problems are entirely due to the Honda power unit. “Unfortunately, we can’t do much here at the circuit,” he said. “We have to rely on major changes at the factory, in the software, or whatever else is needed. That has to come from Japan (where Honda’s headquarters are, ed.), so it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s more with Monza in mind that we still need to take a step forward there. There are still a few tenths to optimize in the overall package.”
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