Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team Debuts Honda’s New Engine at Hungaroring on July 31

Aston Martin and Honda took a major step forward on Wednesday, running Honda’s new-specification power unit for the first time during a filming day at the Hungaroring in Hungary. The engine will make its race debut at the Dutch Grand Prix in late August. The move comes after Aston Martin introduced a sweeping 16-part car upgrade at last weekend’s Budapest round, helping the team escape the grid’s bottom tier for the first time this season.

How Aston Martin climbed out of the basement

Aston Martin’s AMR26 absorbed 16 developments at the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend, marking the team’s most significant upgrade of 2026. Fernando Alonso broke into Q2 for the first time this season and finished 14th, while team-mate Lance Stroll claimed a season-best 13th place. Alonso said the team is now “in the mix” with the midfield after months of running at the back of the field.

The Honda partnership turned a corner

Aston Martin Chief Trackside Officer Mike Krack explained that the team and Honda sat down to rebuild their relationship after a difficult start to 2026. “We are in this together. We need to work hard to get out of it together,” Krack said. The collaboration between Silverstone and Honda’s headquarters in Sakura has improved dramatically in the garage, engineering office, and technical departments. Alonso stressed that trust between the two companies will be crucial to success over the coming months.

New engine debuts before summer break

Honda’s Trackside General Manager Shintaro Orihara confirmed the new power unit ran on-track for the first time during Wednesday’s filming day. The engine will undergo more testing before the summer shutdown, then make its race debut at Zandvoort in just over three weeks. Alonso called for extra engine performance to maintain Aston Martin’s newfound competitiveness, saying the team needs “a little bit more competitive in terms of straightline speed” to stay in contention with the midfield.

What this means for Aston Martin’s season

Honda has collected vital data during the filming day to support the Dutch Grand Prix introduction. Alonso said both factories are gaining confidence and trust in the collaboration. Lance Stroll added that while the team took a big step at Budapest, “we just have to keep pushing.” The second half of the season will test whether the new engine and chassis upgrades can sustain the team’s momentum.

Final Thoughts

Aston Martin’s turnaround from grid basement to midfield contender hinges on Honda’s new engine delivering the straightline speed the team needs. With the upgraded power unit debuting at Zandvoort in three weeks, the partnership’s success will define the second half of the 2026 season.

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