The testing period leading up to the new F1 season was anything but smooth for Aston Martin. After the British formation was only able to test to a limited extent during the shakedown in Barcelona, the team was also plagued by technical delays in Bahrain. On the final day, engine supplier Honda sounded the alarm: the AMR26 could not complete any long runs, after which Lance Stroll had to throw in the towel after just six laps. It led to emergency consultations in Japan.
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Honda’s racing division recently held a press conference for the Japanese media; President Koji Watanabe and General Manager Ikuo Takeishi spoke candidly about the current situation at Aston Martin and the disappointing test results. The situation was already dire from the first test days, and ultimately the British team completed the fewest number of laps of all teams. On the final day in Bahrain, the program also had to be halted prematurely due to engine problems.
“To be honest, the pre-season tests were extremely tough for us,” Watanabe admitted. “We couldn’t perform as hoped, and the tests brought several problems to light. At the same time, they did help us to clearly identify those problems. Our engineers and mechanics are now working more closely than ever with the team on-site; work is being done day and night on improvements. We are in constant contact with Aston Martin to face these challenges. They are serious obstacles, but we are not giving up easily.”
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Vibrations damaged the battery
Takeishi further explained the problems with the new Honda engine: “During the preparatory tests, we noticed abnormal vibrations. These caused damage to the battery system, which is the primary cause of the problems. We are thoroughly investigating the powertrain to take appropriate measures. Specifically, this means we have built a setup with bodywork on the test bench in Sakura, so we can accurately analyze the effect of the vibrations.”
“It seems that the vibrations are the result of a combination of factors, which ultimately causes the battery system to be damaged,” he continued. “We are working closely with Aston Martin to resolve this issue before the start of the season.” Takeishi concluded defiantly: “Behind the scenes, everything is running at full speed. We are determined to overcome these problems.”
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