Aston Martin looks back on the most disappointing season start in years, primarily due to the deficient Honda engine developed for the AMR26. Already during the first shakedown in Barcelona, the British team encountered a significant performance deficit and – perhaps even more painfully – severe vibrations that physically affected the drivers. After the first positive signals in Miami, the upcoming Canadian GP will be an important benchmark for the team.
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In a new post on Honda’s social media, chief engineer Shintaro Orihara explains the state of the engine ahead of Montréal. “During the Miami GP, we could see that the interventions to reduce vibrations and improve overall reliability had an effect,” said the Japanese engineer. “Additionally, the weekend was an important opportunity to learn more about energy management under the new regulations. We will continue that approach in Canada.”
Fernando Alonso already warned in Miami that Aston Martin – despite the greatly reduced vibrations – has had little resources to invest in further development of the car; the Spaniard fears the team is falling behind in the development race. In Canada, the focus, besides optimizing energy management, is on improving the drivability of the AMR26. The more confidence the drivers have in the cockpit, the faster the lap times, Orihara explains. “That is really an important goal for this weekend. If we can give the drivers more confidence to enter corners faster and carry more speed through them, that directly results in lap time gains.”
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Challenge
“Canada is another sprint weekend, so it will be crucial to optimize already in FP1,” he continued. “We will face a long straight, making it essential to properly manage energy over a lap. Finally, we must consider possible wet conditions and lower temperatures. This can affect grip, making the car’s handling even more important.”
Aston Martin mainly fought with Cadillac in recent Grands Prix, which as a newcomer to Formula 1 still struggles to keep up with the rest of the field. The American team – which uses the relatively reliable Ferrari power unit – will come to Montréal again with a substantial upgrade package. For Aston Martin, it is to be hoped that Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas do not pull further ahead; Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are not expected to receive significant upgrades until the summer break.
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